The Board of Governors of the University of Lahore (UOL) has appointed renowned Pakistani scientist Prof Dr Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary as the first Chairholder of the M.A. Raoof Laboratory. He is a globally renowned scientist and a Mustafa (pbuh) Prize Laureate. This appointment recognizes his exceptional contributions to the field of Bio-organic and Natural Products Chemistry.
The M.A. Raoof Laboratory was inaugurated during a high-profile ceremony. Prof. Zhao Yuefen, a renowned Chinese scientist and academician, officially unveiled the facility. The event was attended by the Rector of UOL and other dignitaries. The inauguration reflects the university’s commitment to cutting-edge scientific research.
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary is a Distinguished National Professor at the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS). He is also the Coordinator General of COMSTECH, which is the OIC’s Ministerial-level Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation. Additionally, he serves as the Vice President (Central & South Asia) of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS). He is also a WHO expert for Traditional Medicine Research Priority Setting.
Prof. Choudhary has made groundbreaking contributions to natural product chemistry. He has played a significant role in scientific capacity-building across the Afro-Asian region. His efforts have helped establish research centers in Pakistan, Africa, and Central & South Asia. He has also trained hundreds of researchers, with a special focus on empowering women in science.
Prof. Choudhary has received numerous national and international awards. He is a recipient of Hilal-e-Imtiaz, Sitara-e-Imtiaz, and Tamgha-e-Imtiaz from the President of Pakistan. He has also won the Mustafa (pbuh) Prize, known as the "Nobel Prize of the Muslim World." Other notable awards include the Sheikh Zayed International Award for Traditional Medicine and the Chinese Government Friendship Award.
Prof. Choudhary has an outstanding academic record. He has over 1,370 publications with an impact factor exceeding 3,800. His work has received 46,041 citations, and he has an h-index of 88. He has authored 94 books and 40 book chapters. He also holds 94 patents, including 64 US patents. More than 100 Ph.D. students have completed their research under his supervision.
The establishment of the M.A. Raoof Laboratory at UOL is a landmark initiative. It celebrates the achievements of Prof. Choudhary and highlights UOL’s dedication to scientific research and innovation. This initiative strengthens UOL’s position as a leading institution for pioneering discoveries with global impact.