Khalil Qureshi

{{Short description|Pakistani scientist}} {{BLP sources|date=October 2015}} {{Use British English|date=August 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox scientist | name =Khalil Qureshi | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image =  | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_date =  | birth_place =Lahore, Punjab | death_date =  | death_place = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates =  | other_names = | residence = | citizenship =Pakistan | fields =Physical Chemistry | workplaces =Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission Punjab University London University Lahore University of Management Sciences | alma_mater =Punjab University Imperial College London | thesis_title =Physico-chemical studies of the vapour deposition of alumina | thesis_url = | thesis_year =1972 | doctoral_advisor =David Craig | academic_advisors = | doctoral_students = | notable_students = | known_for =Work in physical chemistry, explosive forming, nuclear energy, and Pakistan's nuclear deterrence program. | author_abbrev_bot = | author_abbrev_zoo = | influences = | influenced = | awards =Hilal-i-Imtiaz (2003) Sitara-i-Imtiaz (1999) | signature =  | signature_alt = | website =  | footnotes = | spouse = | children = }}

'''Khalil Ahmad Qureshi''' (Urdu: خليل احمد قريشى; HI, SI), is a Pakistani physical chemist and the professor of physical chemistry at the Punjab University. He has published notable papers in nuclear physical chemistry in international scientific journals as well contributing in the advancement of the scientific applications of the civilian usage of the fuel cycle.

==Early life and education== A native of Lahore, Qureshi subsequently attended the Punjab University to study chemistry where he graduated with BSc in chemistry.<ref name="Punjab University Press">{{cite web|title=Prof Dr Khalil Qureshi|url=http://pu.edu.pk/images/Workshops/Programe-Details.pdf|work=Punjab University Press|access-date=14 December 2013|format=microsoft word}}</ref> For his higher studies, he went to United Kingdom to attend Imperial College London.<ref name="Punjab University Press"/> He earned MSc in Chemical Technology and worked towards gaining the DIC in physical metallurgy.<ref name="The Khwarizmi Science Society">{{cite web |author=((Editor-in-Chief)) |title=Dr. Khalil Qureshi (H.I., S.I.) |url=http://www.khwarizmi.org/profiles/2010/dr-khalil-qureshi-hi-si |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131214092418/http://www.khwarizmi.org/profiles/2010/dr-khalil-qureshi-hi-si |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 December 2013 |work=The Khwarizmi Science Society |access-date=14 December 2013}}</ref> At the Imperial College, he joined the doctoral group led by Thomas West and David Craig.<ref name="London University Press "/> He earned his PhD in physical chemistry under the supervision of David Craig, writing his thesis on Physico-chemical studies of the vapour deposition of Al2O3, in 1972.<ref name="London University Press ">{{cite book | last =The Alumni Center | title =Theses and Dissertations Accepted for Higher Degrees | publisher =London University Press | year =1967 | location =London | pages =45 | language =en | url =https://books.google.com/books?id=-DTgAAAAMAAJ&q=qURESHI | id =-DTgAAAAMAAJ }}</ref>

==Career== ===Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission=== He briefly taught physical chemistry at the London University before moving to Pakistan. Upon his return, he joined the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) and took the professorship of nuclear chemistry at the Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH).<ref>{{cite book|last=Khan|first=Feroz Hassan|title=Eating grass the making of the Pakistani bomb|publisher=Stanford Security Studies, an imprint of Stanford University Press|location=Stanford, California|isbn=978-0804784801|chapter=Production of Uranium Metal|date=7 November 2012}}</ref> Subsequently, he joined the clandestine atomic bomb project's chemistry section led by fellow chemist Iqbal Hussain Qureshi.

Munir Ahmad Khan, chairman PAEC, had him partially take over the "R-Labs" at PAEC to engage research in chemical explosives. Initially, the research was concentrated towards development of the HMX, a non-toxic explosive that was produced as a by-product of the RDX process.<ref name="§Developing the triggering mechanism">{{cite book|last=Khan|first=Feroz Hassan|title=Eating grass the making of the Pakistani bomb|publisher=Stanford Security Studies, an imprint of Stanford University Press|location=Stanford, California|isbn=978-0804784801|chapter=§Developing the triggering mechanism|date=7 November 2012}}</ref> In the 1970s, he founded the Metallurgical Laboratory (ML) where he also moved majority of the staff to undertake research in metallurgy.<ref name="§Production of Uranium Metal" /> He then led a team of chemists who supervised the physical conversion of UF6 into solid metal before coating and machining the metal.<ref name="§Production of Uranium Metal"/> During this time, he also led the research on using chemical and metallurgical industrial techniques and reduction furnaces to produce metal from the Highly enriched uranium.<ref name="§Production of Uranium Metal"/> Due to the sensitivity of the project and concerns of fellow theorist Dr. AQ Khan, the program was moved to KRL in the 1980s.<ref name="§Production of Uranium Metal">{{cite book|last=Khan|first=Feroz Hassan|title=Eating grass the making of the Pakistani bomb|publisher=Stanford Security Studies, an imprint of Stanford University Press|location=Stanford, California|isbn=978-0804784801|chapter=§Production of Uranium Metal|date=7 November 2012}}</ref>

===Research and science activism=== While at PAEC, Qureshi joined the chemistry department of Quaid-e-Azam University as an associate professor. In the 1990s, he joined the Punjab University to teach post-graduate course on physical chemistry. In the 2000s, he joined the Lahore University of Management Sciences's School of Science and Engineering as director of engineering and safety.<ref name="The Khwarizmi Science Society" />

Over the years, he became known for his strong scientific advocacy of peaceful usage of nuclear energy, safety, and security, following the Fukushima disaster.<ref name="FCC University Press">{{cite web|last=FCC Communications office|title=Benade Physics Society Lecture on Promise of Nuclear Energy|url=http://www.fccollege.edu.pk/benade-physics-society-lecture-on-promise-of-nuclear-energy|work=FCC University Press|access-date=14 December 2013|archive-date=14 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214103058/http://www.fccollege.edu.pk/benade-physics-society-lecture-on-promise-of-nuclear-energy|url-status=dead}}</ref> A member of Khwarizmi Science Society, he has lectured on safety issues regarded the nuclear power and topics in nuclear chemistry.<ref name="Prof. Khalil Qureshi at Khwarizmi Science Society">{{cite web|title=Lectures on Physical chemistry and nuclear power by KA Qureshi|url=http://www.khwarizmi.org/activities/2010/harnessing-nuclear-energy|publisher=Prof. Khalil Qureshi at Khwarizmi Science Society|access-date=14 December 2013}}</ref> He has also authored numerous articles on chemical safety and securities around the world in world's leading research journal.<ref name="Committee on Promoting Safe and Secure Chemical Management in Developing Countries,">{{cite book|last=Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology, Division on Earth and Life Studies -|title=Promoting Chemical Laboratory Safety and Security in Developing Countries|year=2010|publisher=Committee on Promoting Safe and Secure Chemical Management in Developing Countries|location=Washington US|isbn=978-0309161350|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4KYzOUrr9lsC&q=khalil+qureshi+chemistry&pg=PT7}}</ref> In 2011, he lectured on physical chemistry and spoke about how nuclear technology was being used currently and different ways of disposing nuclear waste at the Forman Christian College University in Lahore.<ref name="FCCU Communications Office –">{{cite news|last=Staff|title=Benade Physics Society Lecture on Promise of Nuclear Energy|url=http://www.fccollege.edu.pk/benade-physics-society-lecture-on-promise-of-nuclear-energy|access-date=14 December 2013|newspaper=FCCU Communications Office –|date=13 January 2011|archive-date=14 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214103058/http://www.fccollege.edu.pk/benade-physics-society-lecture-on-promise-of-nuclear-energy|url-status=dead}}</ref> He is the recipient of Pakistan's highest honours– the Hilal-i-Imtiaz bestowed in 2003 and the Sitara-e-Imtiaz bestowed in 1999 by the Government of Pakistan.<ref name="Dawn news (2003)">{{cite news|last=Staff|title=Awards for civilians announced|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/135087/awards-for-civilians-announced|access-date=14 December 2013|newspaper=Dawn news (2003)|date=13 August 2013}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.khwarizmi.org/activities/2010/harnessing-nuclear-energy Harnessing Nuclear Energy] *{{Citation | last = Khan | first =Feroze Hassan | title =Eating grass the making of the Pakistan atomic bomb | place =Stanford, California | publisher = Stanford Security Studies, an imprint of Stanford University Press | year =2012 | isbn =978-0804784801 }} *{{Citation | last =Rehman | first =Shahid ur | title =Long Road to Chagai | place =Islamabad | publisher =Printwise Publications | year =1999 | chapter =§Directorate Chemical X | isbn =9698500006 }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Qureshi, Khalil}} Category:Living people Category:Scientists from Lahore Category:University of the Punjab alumni Category:Alumni of Imperial College London Category:Academic staff of Lahore University of Management Sciences Category:Academics of the University of London Category:Academic staff of the University of the Punjab Category:Academic staff of Quaid-i-Azam University Category:Pakistani chemical engineers Category:Project-706 Category:Physical chemists Category:Pakistani science writers Category:Recipients of Hilal-i-Imtiaz Category:Recipients of Sitara-i-Imtiaz Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Nuclear weapons scientists and engineers