Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences was established in 2003 by upgrading the former Department of Soil Science to the status of an institute. The Department of Soil Science was established in 1961 when the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad was created from the former Punjab Agricul-
tural College and Research Institute that had been established in 1906 and which had developed a significant record of teaching, research and ext-
ension. Prior to 1961, Soil Science operated within the Section of Chemistry and Agricultural Chemistry.
The Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences has an infrastructure, which is at par with the internatio-
nal standards. The institute has well qualified and dedicated teachers. Most of them are Ph.Ds. having ex-
perience of working in foreign countries as post-docs/visiting scientists. They have developed good intern-
ational linkages through different research projects. The research laboratories of the institute are well-eq-uipped with good facilities. The department/institute has, by now, produced 1563 B.Sc.(Hons.), 1703 M.-
Sc.(Hons.) and 116 Ph.D. students.
The institute is actively engaged in research on different aspects of Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition, Soil a-
nd Water Chemistry, Environmental Pollution, Saline Agriculture, Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry, Soil
Physics and Environmental Sciences. Advisory services to farmers are also rendered upon request. The de-
partment/institute by now has completed about 65 research projects. At present, 30 research projects, fu-
nded by different national and international agencies, are in progress. The contribution and dedication of t-
he staff towards research is reflected through the publication of 23 books, 38 book chapters, 10 monogra-
phs, 120 technical reports and above 1075 research papers at foreign and local levels.
The dedications of the faculty members have also been recognized by various national and international organizations through prestigious awards like Pride of Performance, Best Scientist in Agriculture, five Best University Teacher awards, Tamgha-i-Imtiaz, two Pakistan Academy of Sciences Gold Medals in Ag-
riculture and Best Scientist in Agriculture 2007 award of the Third World Academy of Sciences and Research Productivity Awards from Pakistan Coun-
cil for Science and Technology.
A new degree of B.Sc.(Hons.) Environmental Science in the Institute besides the already existing Soil Science major from the session 2012 has been in-
itiated. Moreover, Institute is also offering M.Sc.(Hons.) and Ph.D. in Environmental Science.
