Integrated Mountain Areas Research Center

The Northern Mountainous Region of Pakistan is regarded as the most glaciated landscape on earth outside the Polar Regions, also known as water towers of Asia. The entire area serves as a living nature museum to study the unique geological, geographic, ecological and socio-cultural features of mountainous areas and societies. The Karakoram International University (KIU), Gilgit situated in northern Pakistan at the confluence of the world’s great mountain ranges of Karakoram, Himalaya, Hindu Kush and Pamirs, strives to promote knowledge on mountains and associated resources.

In order to institutionalize the academic, research and development initiatives, aimed towards knowledge of mountain societies and resources, the University has established a Centre namely Integrated Mountain Areas Research Centre (IMARC). Establishment of the Centre started in 2010 with the financial and technical support of Social, Economic and Environmental Development (SEED) Project for Central Karakoram National Park (CKNP), an initiative under Pakistan-Italy Debt for Development Swap Agreement. IMARC is an integral part of KIU and has been established with approval from KIU statutory bodies.

A state-of-the-art institution, aimed at holistic, integrated and sustainable mountain development through cutting-edge academic, research and capacity-building initiatives.

  • To initiate academic programs to develop qualified human resource to cater for the needs of sustainable mountain development including teaching, learning, and research;
  • To embark upon a research program and engage in various national and international research and academic organizations to promote research on diverse fields of mountain studies;
  • To design and implement human and institutional development programs including capacity-building, community outreach, training, and policy input to promote sustainable mountain development in Pakistan and elsewhere in the world; and
  • To act as a knowledge hub on mountains, associated resources, and societies.

  • Running Academic Program in Thematic Areas
  • Conducting Research on Mountain Issues
  • Capacity building

  • Applied geology, geohazards, and sustainable mineral resource development
  • Atmospheric sciences and climate change
  • Mountain Forestry
  • Wildlife Ecology, Conservation, and Management
  • Glaciology and mountain hydrology
  • Water resources management
  • Rangelands Conservation and Management
  • Innovative technologies for territorial management (GIS & Remote Sensing)
  • Rural development and management
  • Sustainable mountain agriculture
  • Tourism and hospitality studies
  • Food Security and Climate Change
  • Disaster studies
  • Biodiversity and Conservation
  • Soil Sciences
  • Livestock management
  • Mountain societies and languages

International

  • Chinese Academy of Sciences ( CAS)
  • Melbourne University Australia
  • ICIMOD
  • International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
  • Kashgar University CHINA

National

  • Planning & Development Department, Government of GB
  • Forests and Wildlife &Department Government of GB
  • Agriculture, Livestock & Fisheries Department, Government of GB
  • Tourism, Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Government of GB
  • Labour, Industries and Minerals, Government of GB
  • Ministry of Climate Change Islamabad
  • World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF- Pakistan)
  • Center for Research on CPEC (KIU-GB)

Prof. Dr. Syed Moazzam Nizami

Prof. Dr. Syed Moazzam Nizami

Designation: Director IMARC

Phone: +92 5811 960064, 960010-13 ext. 269

Email: director.imarc@kiu.edu.pk

Ishrat Roomi

Ishrat Roomi

Designation: Scientific Secretary

Phone: +92 5811 960010-13 ext. 170

Email: ishrat.roomi@kiu.edu.pk

Mr. Javed Hassan

Mr. Javed Hassan

Designation: Research Associate

Phone: +92 5811 960010-13 ext. 170

Email: javed.hassan@kiu.edu.pk

Ms Irum Bano

Ms Irum Bano

Designation: Research Associate

Phone: +92 5811 960010-13 ext. 170

Email: iram.bano@kiu.edu.pk

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