ASGHAR QADIR

Asghar Qadir, born on July 23, 1946, is a distinguished Pakistani mathematician and cosmologist known for his extensive work in mathematical physics and physical cosmology. He holds prestigious honors such as the Hilal-i-Imtiaz (HI) and Sitara-i-Imtiaz (SI), and is a Fellow of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences (FPAS). Widely regarded as one of the top mathematicians in Pakistan, Qadir has made significant contributions to the fields of differential equations, theoretical cosmology, and mathematical physics, particularly in general relativity and cosmology. 

Throughout his illustrious career, Qadir has played a pivotal role in promoting the study of relativity in Pakistan. He has mentored numerous graduate students and held prominent administrative positions, including Chairman of the Mathematics Department and Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad. In 2004, he founded the Center for Advanced Mathematics & Physics at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), serving as its founding Director General until 2011 and as Professor Emeritus until 2019. As of 2023, he is a visiting professor at the Abdus Salam School of Mathematical Sciences at Government College University, Lahore.

Qadir has an extensive publication record, with over 250 research papers, 12 books, 22 research-level articles, 7 teaching journal papers, 32 popular articles, and 48 research preprints. His book, "Relativity: An Introduction to the Special Theory," has been translated into several languages and is widely read by science students across Asia. 

During his Ph.D. studies, Qadir was supervised by renowned English mathematical physicist and 2020 Nobel Laureate Roger Penrose. He has attended more than 100 international and national conferences and seminars across various fields, including mathematics, physics, economics, and the history and philosophy of science.

Qadir hails from a prominent family with significant contributions to the early years of Pakistan. His father, Manzur Qadir, was a notable jurist and served as the foreign minister in President Ayub Khan's cabinet from 1958 to 1962. His maternal grandfather, Sir Mian Fazl-i-Hussain, was a prominent politician and founder of the Unionist Party in Punjab. 

Born in Simla (now Shimla), British India, Qadir's family migrated to Lahore after the independence of Pakistan in 1947. He received his early education at Saint Mary's School in Rawalpindi and attended Gordon College Rawalpindi and Government College Lahore. In 1963, he moved to the United Kingdom on a Commonwealth scholarship and earned his BSc (Hons) in Mathematics from the University of London. He also obtained a BS in Physics and DIC in Mathematics. In 1969, Qadir completed his MSc in Mathematics, followed by a Ph.D. in Mathematical Physics and the Theory of Relativity with a specialization in Twistor theory under Roger Penrose's supervision.

Qadir's research career includes significant stints at the University of Texas at Austin as a Fulbright Visiting Scholar, working with John Archibald Wheeler on black holes and with Remo Ruffini, known for discovering Cygnus X-1. He was involved in the Salam Prize for Young Pakistani Scientists from 1980 to 2005, thanks to his collaboration with Nobel Laureate Abdus Salam.

He worked at the Rutherford High Energy Laboratory (now Rutherford Appleton Laboratory) in advanced computational mathematics before returning to Pakistan in 1971 to join Quaid-i-Azam University. He became an associate professor in 1982 and the department chairman in 1986. His tenure at Quaid-i-Azam University was marked by significant contributions to mathematical physics, including involvement in Pakistan's nuclear tests in 1998. For his role, he was awarded the Sitara-i-Imtiaz by the Government of Pakistan.

Qadir served as Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Quaid-i-Azam University until 2000 and later as the founder Director General of the Centre for Advanced Mathematics and Physics at NUST. He retired in 2019 and continues to contribute to mathematical sciences as a visiting professor at GCU Lahore.

Asghar Qadir's career is marked by his profound impact on mathematical sciences in Pakistan, his dedication to advancing research and education, and his contributions to both national and international scientific communities.

REFERENCE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asghar_Qadir