Prof. Dr. Shujaul Mulk Khan, Professor of Ecology and Conservation at the Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), Islamabad, and President of the International Society of Ethnobiology (ISE), represented Pakistan at the 19th International Society of Ethnobiology Congress held in Cairns, Queensland, Australia.

Professor Khan also presented his research, “Wild Food Plant Foraging in the World’s Highest Karakoram Mountains: A Generational Perspective.” The study documented 58 wild food plant species used by the Balti communities of Gilgit-Baltistan, including 23 species reported for the first time in Pakistan as wild foods, highlighting their importance for food security, livelihoods, and the preservation of traditional ecological knowledge.

His participation showcased Pakistan’s growing contribution to ethnobiology and biodiversity research, enhanced the international profile of Quaid-i-Azam University, and strengthened opportunities for global scientific collaboration.