IFTIKHAR ALI (PhD)

Publications

[email protected]; Call: +92-3135853768; WhatsApp: +92 3445419821

Department of Development Studies, Karakoram International University (Hunza Campus)

Karimabad Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan

Dr. Iftikhar Ali is an academic lecturer and researcher in the field of development studies at Karakoram International University (Hunza Campus), Pakistan. He teaches subjects like high mountain sustainable development, agricultural transformation & rural development, climate change & development policy and poverty and development at undergraduate and graduate level. His research interest primarily revolves around the sustainable development issues of high mountainous rural areas in Pakistan. His major areas of interests include:
Climate change and agricultural transformation Climate change impacts on high mountain rural smallholder’s farming Climate change vulnerability and adaptive capacity Education for sustainable development in the high mountain areasTourism and sustainable development in high mountain areas

BACHELOR, MASTER AND DOCTORAL DISSERTATION

PhD: Climate Change and Land-Based Livelihoods Transformation: Smallholder’s Perception and Adaptation in The High Mountainous Rural Areas of Pakistan
Master: Impact of Socio-Cultural Constraints On Female Higher Education in The High Mountainous Rural Areas of Pakistan
Bachelor: Factors Affecting Female Higher Education In The High Mountainous Rural Areas Of Pakistan – A Case Study Of District Nagar

RESEARCH & PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE

Designation: Lecturer | September 2019 – continue Department: Development Studies Organization: Karakorum International University, Gilgit (Hunza Campus)
Main Role and Responsibilities: Teaching assigned subjects at graduate and undergraduate levelSupervising the undergraduate student for the final year research projectsDesigning the scheme of studies for new semestersWorking as department coordinator Organising different webinars on range of sustainable development issues
Designation: Doctoral Researcher | September 2020 – July 2023 Organization: College of Humanities & Development Studies, China Agriculture University, China
Main Role and Responsibilities: Successfully completed doctoral training on methods of social and development studies researchCompleted course on academic thesis writing for PhD and research integrity and academic normsSuccessfully completed training on the use of statistical software (SPSS)Conducted research on the smallholder’s perception of climate change and their adaptation concerning land-based livelihoods in the high mountainous rural areas of Pakistan
Designation: District Coordinator | November 2021 – January 2022        Project: Measles-Rubella Campaign & Routine Immunization of Children        Organization: Precision Health Consultants (PHC) Global, Pakistan
Main Role and Responsibilities: Travel in assigned districts for field monitoring visits of health facilities as per plan providedCollect, maintain and update PHC Global monitoring checklist over hard and soft forms as instructedTimely report good practices and bottlenecks being observed during the campaign to the supervisorMonitor quality of MR campaign conducted at district, tehsil and UC levelPreparation and timely submission of data and reports of completed activitiesProvide support to government authorities and WHO staﬀ for routine immunizationMobilization of communities regarding the importance of routine immunization
Designation: Project Assistant | March 2016 – August 2018        Project: Parwaan Pre School –A School Readiness Program funded by DFID        Organization: Children’s Global Network, Pakistan (NGO/Consultancy firm)
Main Role and Responsibilities: Design, development and dissemination of project information among project teamMonthly and quarterly work plan and progress reports preparation and milestones compilationFollow up with regions and cluster coordinators on assigned targets/ milestones.Analysing the available data to prepare presentations for donor and stakeholdersAssist in a quarterly and annual review meeting at the regional and head office level.Oversight and monitoring visit during the implementation of different program activities

AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

The awardee of the Forbidden City Scholarship supported by Beijing Municipal Government for PhD in Development Studies at China Agricultural University, China for the years (2020-2023).
The awardee of the Global Ambassador Scholarship for the master degree program at Korean Development Institute (KDI) School of Public Policy and Management, South Korea (2018-2019)
The awardee of Institute and Campus Gold Medal for getting first position during Bachelors of Science Degree in Development Studies (2012-2016)
The awardee of One Month Exchange Program Fellowship to attend 3-weeks august block course “Introduction to Development Studies” at Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway under joint student exchange program on merit basis (August-September, 2014).
The awardee of Merit-Based Undergraduate Scholarship funded by HEC and USAID for bachelor’s degree program at COMSATS University (Abbottabad Campus), Pakistan for the years (2012-2016)
Best Paper Presenter Award at the International Conference on Gender Intersectionality and Climate Change (GICC), Organized by National University of Science & Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan, 24-25 September, 2024.
The awardee of Merit-Based Prime Minister Laptop Scheme during undergraduate degree, Higher Education Commission of Pakistan. 2015

PEER-REVIEWD PUBLICATIONS

Ali, I., Shah, A. A., Alhafi Alotaibi, B., Ali, A., & Ali, Y. (2025). A gendered analysis of perception and adaptation to climate change among High Mountain farmers: a case study of Nagar District, Pakistan. Local Environment, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2025.2477009
Ali, I., Ahmad, A., Alhafi, B., Xu, C., Ali, A., & Ali, Y. (2025). Unveiling the determinants of climate change adaptation among small Landholders : Insights from a Mountainous Region in Pakistan. Climate Services, 38(October 2024), 100550. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cliser.2025.100550
Ali, I., Ahmad, A., Alhafi, B., & Ali, A. (2024).Assessing the impacts of climate change on high mountain land-based livelihoods: An empirical investigation in District Nagar, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. Heliyon, 10(21), e39877. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e39877
Sassi, M., Ali, Y., &
Ali, I. (2024).Climate change perception and adaptation among farmers in the mountains of Western Karakoram, Pakistan. Development in Practice, 35(1), 3–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/09614524.2024.2417249
Ali, I., Khan, M., & Ali, A. (2024). Socio-economic determinants of girl’s higher education: empirical insights from the high-mountain Nagar District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. Development in Practice, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/09614524.2024.2434635 Ali, A., Iqbal, Z., &
Ali, I. (2024). Women in mountain tourism: exploring the links between women tourism entrepreneurship and women empowerment in Hunza Valley. Tourism Recreation Research, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/02508281.2024.2386869 Ali, W., Memon, J. A.,
Ali, I., & Karim, R. (2024). A Novel and Integrated Approach to Stakeholder Salience: Insights from the Tourism Sector in the Gilgit-Baltistan Province of Pakistan. Tourism Planning & Development, May, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/21568316.2024.2353579. Hussain, T., Akhtar, S., Ahmad, S.,
Ali, I. (2022). How Social Capital Varies with Socio-Demographic Factors in The High Mountainous Gilgit District, Pakistan? Journal of Positive School Psychology, Vol. 6, No. 10, 429-441; https://journalppw.com/index.php/jpsp/article/view/13039
Ali, I., Manzoor, M., Ahmad, S., Noreen, S., Masroor, A., & Mahmood, Z. (2022). Socio-Economic and Health Determinants of Child Labor an Overview of Multiple Index Cluster Survey. Pakistan Journal of Medical and Health Sciences, 16(2), 860–865. https://doi.org/10.53350/pjmhs22162860
Ali, I., Khan, M., & Alam, A. (2021). What restraints are there on female education in high mountainous rural areas of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. Development in Practice, 31(8), 1040–1050. https://doi.org/10.1080/09614524.2021.1907539 Khan, M., Kasmi, J., Saboor, A., & Ali, I. (2020). Analysis of the Government and NGOs in Delivering Quality Services for the Rural People of Pakistan: Community Perspectives. Asia-Pacific Journal of Rural Development, 30(1–2), 203–225. https://doi.org/10.1177/1018529120977260
Ali, I., Alam, A., Ali, Z., & Ali, Y. (2020). Physical and Geographical Impediments to Female Higher Education in High. North American Academic Research, 3(02), 439–449. https://doi.org/URL:https://zenodo.org/record/3690261#.XwFTjCgzbIU
Ali, I., Ali, W., Riaz, S., & Bano, T. (2020). China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC): A Door of Hope for Pakistan and Potential Benefits for China. European Journal of Academic Research, VII (12), 6182–6201. http://www.euacademic.org/UploadArticle/4307.pdf Ali, Y., Riaz, S., Ali, Z., & Ali, I. (2020). Analyzing the Role of Road Infrastructure for the Development of Fresh Fruit Industry in Gilgit-Baltistan. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), IV(Iv), 288–293. https://www.rsisinternational.org/virtual-library/papers/analyzing-the-role-of-road-infrastructure-for-the-development-of-fresh-fruit-industry-in-gilgit-baltistan-pakistan

PUBLICATIONS (IN PREPARATION / UNDER REVIEW/ SUBMITTED)

Ali, I., A. A. Shah (2024). Understanding Climate Change Through an Intersectional Lens: Gendered Perception, Impacts & Adaptation Among High Mountain Farming Communities in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan (Status: Under Review) in Local Environment
Ali, I., Zang, L., Khan, M. (2024). Indigenous Knowledge Based Perception of Climate Change at the Household Level: Evidence from Western Karakoram, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan (Status: Under Review) in Climate Services.

CONFERENCE PAPERS/ PRESENTATIONS

Ali, I., Hasanat, F. (2024). Understanding Climate Change Vulnerability, Risk Perception and Adaptation Among the Farmers in Hisper Valley of District Nagar, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. Regional Conference on Climate Induced Disasters, Organized by Karakoram International University, Gilgit, Pakistan, 15 October, 2024.
Ali, I., A. A. Shah (2024). Understanding Climate Change Through an Intersectional Lens: Gendered Perception, Impacts & Adaptation Among High Mountain Farming Communities in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, International Conference on Gender Intersectionality and Climate Change (GICC), Organized by National University of Science & Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan, 24-25 September, 2024. Ali, I. (2024). Gender-Based Variations in Climate Change Perception, Impacts, and Adaptation Among Smallholders in High Altitude Areas of Pakistan, Aamozish-e-Tehqeeq – Navigating Climate, Gender, and Peace, Organized by Habib University, Karachi, Pakistan, 8-9 March, 2024.
Ali, I., Zang, L., (2023). Assessing the Smallholder’s Perception of Climate Change at the Household Level: Empirical Insights from Western Karakoram, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, Population Research Conference (PRC) 2023, Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi, Pakistan, March 20, 2023. Conference proceeding available at https://prc.iba.edu.pk/pdf/iba-prc-conference-proceedings.pdf Ali, I., Zang, L., (2023). Climate Change and Land-based Livelihoods: Smallholder’s Adaptation Strategies in the High Mountainous Western Karakoram Region of Pakistan. Development Studies Association (DSA) 2023 Conference: Crisis in the Anthropocene: Rethinking Connection and Agency for Development, University of Reading, United Kingdom, June 28-30, 2023 Available at https://nomadit.co.uk/conference/108/paper/73859

RESEARCH PROJECTS

Year (Duration) Position Project Title Institution / Organization
April 2024 – Oct 2024 Principal Investigator (Supervisor) Understanding climate change vulnerability, risk perception and adaptation among the farmers in Hisper Nagar, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. UNDP GLOF-II
July 2023 – July 2024 Project Research Assistant The Substantial Impact and Improvement Path of International Aid Agencies on South Asia Nanjing University, China
August 16, 2019 – August 30, 2019 Field Researcher A Survey on the well-being of Afghan Refugees in Pakistan and their socio-economic impact on the national economy of Pakistan COMSATS University, Islamabad, Pakistan
Jan 2015 – May 2015 Field Researcher The impact of climate change on maize crop production in the rural high mountainous areas of Pakistan Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan

WORKSHOPS / SYMPOSIUMS / CONFERENCES / TRAININGS PARTICIPATED

Two days “International Conference on Sustainable Tourism & Women Empowerment” organized by Karakoram International University and Fatima Jinnah University (13-14 September, 2023).
Two days training on “Deans Development Program” organized by National Business Education Accreditation Council of HEC (23-24 August, 2023).
Three days training on Disaster Preparedness & Response Training & Simulation Exercise (SIMEX); Karakoram International University (Hunza Campus), Pakistan (17-19 July – 2023).Participated in 2023 “Worldwide Teach-In on Climate & Justice” held at Karakoram International University (Hunza Campus), Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan (June, 2023).
Completed seminar series on “Poverty Reduction for Pakistan” sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce and organized by International Poverty Reduction Center in China – Online (October 18-27, 2022).
Successfully completed the online executive certificate course on “Climate Change Mitigation” organized by KDI School of Public Policy & Management, South Korea and Global Development Learning Network (June 14-July 19, 2022).
Attended online Development Talk on Bangladesh-Emerging Perspectives in Development Cooperation organized by KDI School of Public Policy & Management, South Korea (June 23, 2022).Blended seminar series KDI & GDLN (March-April, 2021)
Attended 5 days training on quantitative data collection from through questionnaire organized by COMSATS University, Islamabad, Pakistan (August 16-20, 2019).
Attended 3 days Regional Symposium on “Strengthening Capacities of Public Institutions and Developing Effective Partnerships to Realize the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” at UN regional office Incheon, South Korea (2018).

COURSES COMPLETED

Foundation of Sustainable Development (Colombia University – Dr. Jeffrey Sachs)Introduction to Development Studies (Norwegian University of Life Sciences – NMBU)Special Policy Lecture Series (Korean Development Institute, South Korea)COVID 19 – Operational planning guideline to support country’s preparedness (WHO)Executive certificate course on Climate Change Mitigation organized by KDI School of Public Policy & Management, South Korea and Global Development Learning Network (GDLN).

COMPUTER AND DATA ANALYSIS SKILLS

Expertise in Quantitative Social Research, Qualitative Research and Mixed Method Research
Expertise in survey design, primary field research, and data collection toolsProficient in statistical analysis and software (SPSS, PLS)
Proficient in using referencing software MendeleyExpertise in academic writing and journal publication
Proficient in MS Office (MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint)
SPSS (Data Entering, Cleaning, Managing, & Data Analysis)
Ms. Excel (Data Entering, Cleaning, Managing, & Data Analysis)