Pakistan Academy of Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan

Specialization: Bioethics, Preparedness and response, Biosafety, Surveillance and forecasting, Dual use education

Hailing from Kohat (Tribal Area Pakistan) Dr. Zabta Khan Shinwari obtained his PhD from Kyoto University, Japan, which he followed with several postdoctoral fellowships in Japan. He served the Pakistan Museum of Natural History, the National Agricultural Research Centre, WWF-Pakistan and COMSTECH before his appointment as Vice Chancellor of Kohat University of Science & Technology (KUST).

One of his major achievements is to extend higher education facilities to the neglected communities of Pakistan especially to girls and women. He also established the University of Science & Technology, Bannu. He is the founder of the KUST Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS). Dr. Shinwari also served the private sector as CEO of Qarshi Research International and vice chancellor/PD Qarshi University-Lahore. He was tenured professor of biotechnology and dean of the Faculty of Biological Sciences in Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, and president, National Council of Tibb, and also served as secretary general to the Pakistan Academy of Sciences.

In his research, Shinwari reported genes for drought, cold and stress tolerance. His publications: 9 books authored; 8 international proceedings edited; 445 articles in impact-factor journals, with more than 11,760 citations and an H index of 54. He has trained more than 100 MPhil & PhDs and registered two patents.

He is a fellow of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences and the Islamic World academy of Sciences. The Government of Pakistan awarded him two civil awards (Tamgha-e-Imtiaz) in 2012 and Sitara-e-Imtiaz in 2018. While recognizing his efforts in ethics in science and technology, UNESCO awarded him  the Avicenna Gold Medal in 2015. He is also vice chair of World Commission of Ethics in Scientific Knowledge & Technology (COMEST) since 2016, and Focal Person of Alliance of International Science Organizations (ANSO-HO, China), 2016-2022.

Shinwari’s main interest is in teaching and developing modules on Dual Use Education. He has been a partner in promoting biosecurity education in Pakistan, as well as being a key figure in Pakistan in terms of biosecurity and international engagement on biosecurity issues.

He has developed links with various national and international agencies to promote biosecurity education in Pakistan. His principal aim is to promote biosecurity from the grassroots upwards, for the economic improvement of Pakistan’s growing biotechnology industry. Presently, he is Professor Emeritus,  Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.