Syed F A R A Z Ali
University of Karachi, GEOLOGY, Department Member
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Surveys carried out in December 2021 around Gharo, Gujo, the Makli Hills, and the terraces of the Khadeji and Mol Rivers have yielded important knapped stone assemblages, which contribute to the study of the Late Pleistocene and Holocene... more
Surveys carried out in December 2021 around Gharo, Gujo, the Makli Hills, and the terraces of the Khadeji and Mol Rivers have yielded important knapped stone assemblages, which contribute to the study of the Late Pleistocene and Holocene prehistory of Lower Sindh. The surveys were conducted by three persons, and the finds were mapped with the help of a high-precision GPS. Moreover, marine and mangrove shell samples were collected for radiocarbon dating to build a detailed chronology of the prehistoric periods during which the coastal area was settled. Special attention has been paid to the limestone terraces around Gharo, just north of the historical centre of Bhambore, the Tharro Hills, Beri and part of the Makli Hill, close to the city of Kalan Kot. The lithic assemblages recovered during the surveys are not very rich. However, some of them show characteristic technotypological traits, which attribute them to the Chalcolithic Amri Culture, while others are undoubtedly older. This fact, and the absence of Bronze Age material culture remains, is very important. It shows that some of the terraces which rise from the alluvial plain of the Indus, were settled during the fourth millennium cal BC when the landscape was very different from that of the present, and the limestone outcrops were islands surrounded by Arabian Sea waters or mangrove environments.
Research Interests:
The main objective of this study was to assess the groundwater quality beneath urban settlements along banks of Malir river in Karachi, which is major drainage of Karachi to transport domestic and industrial wastewater into the Arabian... more
The main objective of this study was to assess the groundwater quality beneath urban settlements along banks of Malir river in Karachi, which is major drainage of Karachi to transport domestic and industrial wastewater into the Arabian sea. Due to discharging untreated domestic sewage and industrial wastewater, it has become highly polluted with undesired contents which may also cause an adverse impact on the quality of shallow groundwater along the banks. For this purpose, 20 and 24 groundwater samples each from right bank (RB) and left bank (LB) of Malir river were collected boring wells at various depths (12-300ft). The samples were analysed to determine physical (pH, ORP, TDS, EC, hardness, alkalinity, salinity, specific gravity, temperature, taste, colour and odour) and chemical parameters (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, Cl-, SO42-, NO3-, HCO3- and F-). Besides, Iron (as minor element) and faecal coliforms were estimated. Data revealed that groundwater salinity is very high along both banks of Malir river which varied in the order of Right bank (mean TDS = 8983 mg/L) > Left bank (mean TDS = 3163 mg/L). Major cation varied in the order of Na+ (mean: 2221mg/L) > Mg2+ (376mg/L) > Ca2+ (206mg/L) > K+ (71mg/L) and anions Cl- (mean: 3891mg/1) > SO42- (1068mg/L) > HCO3- (419mg/L) > NO3- (11mg/L)> F- (2mg/L, 2mg/L) along RB while to the LB as Na+ (mean: 986mg/L) > Mg2+ (155mg/L) > Ca2+ (94mg/L) > K+ (47mg/L) and anions Cl- (1963mg/L) > SO42- (722mg/L) > HCO3- (432mg/L) > NO3- (10mg/L), F- (2mg/L). The groundwater from both banks was found contaminated, where the RB was found more polluted as compared to LB of Malir river. Microbiological analysis revealed that 50 and 60% samples each from RB and LB have pathogenic bacterial occurrence, which suggests that sewage infiltration is common in groundwater of study area. Principal component analysis revealed five significant factors, which indicate that the both natural and anthropogenic factors are responsible to alter the groundwater characteristics of study area. It is concluded that the groundwater along Malir river on both banks is unfit for drinking purpose, and the situation is worst towards the right bank.
Research Interests:
The poster of Article entiled "Physicochemical and Microbiological Characterization of Groundwater along the Banks of Malir River in Karachi, Pakistan. oral presentation was delivered online in 7th Pakistan Geological Congress held on... more
The poster of Article entiled "Physicochemical and Microbiological Characterization of Groundwater along the Banks of Malir River in Karachi, Pakistan. oral presentation was delivered online in 7th Pakistan Geological Congress held on 16-18 Marach, 2022 at Instituted of Geology, University of the Punjab.