The Department of Geology, University of Karachi is one of the earliest institutions for teaching of geology in the country. It started functioning in 1954, under Prof. Dr. Manek B. Pithawala, a noted geographer of pre-partition days and the author of "Geology and Geography of Karachi".

The teaching of Honours classes started with few students and three teachers namely Dr. Mahboob-e-Khuda, Dr. M. Valliullah and Mr. Akhlaque Hussain Rizvi. The first batch of the students was awarded B. Sc. (Honours) degree in Geology in 1957 and M. Sc. degree in 1959.

The department shifted to its present buildings comprised of the teaching and laboratory wings in 1967. The teaching wing has an auditorium, separate lecture rooms for Honours and M. Sc. classes, a seminar library, reference library, audio visual room, offices of faculty members in addition to the office of the Chairman.

The laboratory wing is a three storied spacious building, which contains many laboratories and classrooms. It has a big geological museum at the ground floor and the basement. It is the largest Museum amongst the universities of Pakistan. The covered area is adequate for the present and for the near future needs.

From this humble beginning, the department has now developed into a full fledged teaching and research institution with about 20 research scholars for M. Phil and Ph.D. degrees, 40 graduate and 200 undergraduate students in various classes. Over the years the number of academic staff has increased to 15 regular teaching staff positions out of which there are 08 Professors, 03 Associate Professors, and 03 Lecturers cadres.

Development of the department over the years in fact started after obtaining higher training and research degrees of the senior staff members from abroad in early sixties and seventies. This culminated in introducing the varieties of special papers including Petroleum Geology, Micropaleontology, Geochemistry, Geomorphology, Sedimentology, Marine Geology, Industrial Mineralogy, Engineering Geology, Geophysics and Hydrogeology.

The development of Petroleum Geology in the department has led to the introduction of an evening program in Petroleum Technology in 1996 as an independent department. Post graduate Diploma and Certificate programs will be introduced soon. Four batches of students have already been admitted and the first two M. Sc. batches of over 40 students have passed out in 1998 & 1999. The program is being offered on self-finance basis and a number of courses are taken by professionals belonging to Petroleum Industry.

There are three main, reasonably well-equipped research laboratories for geochemistry, petrology and engineering geology, which provide facilities for higher studies leading to M. Phil/Ph.D degrees. There is a seminar library and a reference section with small but uptodate collection of books and journals for students and faculty members

Contact Information