Vision

Utilizing degraded lands and brackish water for growing plants of economic importance to reduce pressure on fertile lands and sweet water resources.

Mission

Domesticating various halophytes to serve as a source of fodder, forage, biofuel, oil seeds, medicinal plants and other possible usages.

Rationale behind establishing the Institute

Planet earth is a very salty place to live - almost 3/4th is covered with water most of which is in saline seas and salt lakes etc., while estimates show a sizeable area of   land affected by salinity and more being lost to secondary salinization.

The subsoil water in areas not recharged with fresh water is also generally of poor quality and inimical for most plants of human consumption.

Opening new lands for cultivation is not without dire ecological consequences while finding additional fresh water resources is a remote possibility.

This necessitates search for suitable alternatives to meet the demands of burgeoning  population and directs attention to the natural vegetation of those habitats which have been degraded by salinity.

The concept of establishing an elaborate facility for research on the hitherto under explored potential of halophytes was hence developed and the Institute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilization came into being with support from the University of Karachi and the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan.

Research at the Institute will explore the potential of halophytes for the  benefit of mankind and focus on a comprehensive approach to understanding the mechanisms of salt tolerance in these plants through eco-physiological studies supported by biochemical, genetical and molecular arguments governing various responses.

The institute has trained several Faculty Alumni through international and national collaborative projects and has made significant breakthroughs in saline agriculture by using saline resources. MAK-ISHU is proud of its post-graduate students who have graduated successfully and are now actively serving in prestigious public and private, teaching & research institutions of Pakistan.

The Institute holds a prominent position in the University of Karachi for its research activities. Since the time of its establishment (2006), over 25 scholars have completed their Ph.D. Currently, 20 students are enrolled in M.Phil. and 7 in Ph.D, program. The quality of the research at MAK-ISHU can easily be judged by more than 500 international peer reviewed articles.

The Institute also holds various internship programs, seminars, workshops and conferences on a regular basis and has established several international research collaborations and linkage programs with the top international experts from China, Germany, USA and Japan, UAE and Portugal.

Postgraduate Programs Available

M.Phil. & Ph.D, in Botany (ISHU)

Avenues for Research

• Plant Ecology and Ecophysiology
• Biochemistry and Biotechnology
• Photosynthesis and Photobiology
• Ecotoxicology and Phytoremediation
• Phytochemistry of Medicinal Halophytes
• Halo-fuel and Saline Agriculture
• Genomics, Transcriptomics and Proteomics

Aims and Scope of the programs

The major objectives of the degree programs at MAK-ISHU are:

• To create awareness about the pristine and dynamic salt marsh and salt desert ecosystems, their direct economic, ecological and aesthetic benefits of halophytic communities for mankind and the need for conservation.
• To infuse realization about the challenges of global climate changes, their impacts and the need to develop indigenous and innovative ways to harness conventional and non-conventional future crops in an environment friendly manner.
• To train students in cutting-edge research techniques for investigating the dynamic stress tolerance mechanisms of stress tolerance of plants.

These postgraduate programs are in line with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (Zero hunger), SDG 7 (Affordable & clean energy), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life in Water) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Facilities Available

ISHU has state of the art facilities for conducting research in lab, green-houses and an experimental field conditions. Salt tolerant plants have the potential to become nonconventional future crops which may be utilized as food, feed, fiber, medicines and ornamentals. Instruments such as Atomic Absorption Spectrometer, CNS analyzer, GC-MS, HPLC, Ion Chromatograph, Gel Doc System, PCRs, Li-COR Photosynthesis system, Walz PAM fluorometer, Osmometer and Plant Water Status Console are available.

Infrastructure

The Institute has the state-of-the-Art facilities with six offices and four working laboratories on the ground floor including an instrument lab, with ten additional working labs on the first floor. The institute also has two conference rooms, a cold room and three netted green houses in the premises for conducting growth experiments.

Career Opportunities

ISHU graduates can apply for teaching positions in public and private teaching and/or research institutions as well as in research and development organizations related to plant sciences.