Dr. Muhammad Salim was born on May 8, 1948 at Chak no. 394 J. B. Jaja, Tehsil Toba Tek Singh. He received elementary education in his native village and obtained first position in the school in the Middle Examination in 1962. In 1964 he got admission in the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (then West Pakistan Agricultural University, Lyallpur), and got M.Sc. (Hons.) Agr. in 1971. He got PhD degree from IRRI/UPLB, Philippines in 1988.
Dr. Salim obtained merit scholarships/fellowships throughout his educational career from Secondary School Certificate Examination to Ph.D. Some of his additional qualifications include training on biosafety and biosecurity initiatives, Islamabad Pakistan; training course on law and policy of relevance to the management of plant genetic resources, Bangkok Thailand; swift online workshop: IP Management in the life sciences: A distance – learning workshop for plant breeders, USA; workshop on Quantification of yield losses due to rice pests and analysis of survey data in plant protection, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines; and appropriate and sustainable use of rice genetically engineered with toxin gene from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), IRRI Philippines.
As a scientist, he generated a lot of scientific knowledge and developed techniques for the management of insect pests of rice and cotton; designed new cages to study host plant resistance under physico chemical plant stresses. He successfully launched a number of projects such as the conservation of biological control agents in cotton and rice ecosystems; sensible and judicious use of pesticides based on agro-ecosystem analysis; selective use of pesticides through farmers’ participatory approaches; and launched rice productivity enhancement campaigns on large scale.
Dr. Salim is a prolific writer, both in science and religion. He is the author of more than two hundred publications including books: a textbook “Host Plant Resistance: Concept and Significance” for post-graduate students; a book “Insect Pests of Rice and their Integrated Management”; and “Rice: A Production Handbook;” research papers in scientific journals; review articles, popular articles, research papers presented in conferences and workshops, etc.
In addition to scientific publications, Dr. Salim has written a book “Altruistic Compassionate Love and Global Peace” in the light of the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). He wrote a number of articles in an Islamic perspective, such as Subjugation of Water: A Challenge Ahead; Establishment of an Ideal Education System in the Light of the Teachings of the Apostle of Allah; Across the Board Accountability in the Light of Uswa-Hasana; Best Guidance for Stability of Pakistan Can be Obtained from the Holy Seerah; and Islamic System: Need and Practical Suggestions for the Implementation Under Existing Conditions.
Dr. Salim represented Pakistan, in a number of regional and international forums in different countries; participated in national, regional and international meetings, conferences, workshops and seminars and presented papers therein.
Dr. Salim worked as President, and Vice president of the International Muslim Students Association (IMSA) during his higher studies at IRRI, Philippines/University of Philippines at Los Banos (UPLB). He worked for the welfare of the Muslim Community and played a vital role for establishment and improvement of the Islamic Centre and to make the IMSA a viable and dynamic Association.
Dr. Salim got the best paper award five times in the National Seerah Conferences, which were organised by the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Islamabad. These awards were conferred by the then Prime Minister or President of Islamic Republic Pakistan.
