Ali, Nowrad

Research Interests
My research focuses on reconstructing the tectonic and structural evolution of the westernmost Himalayan orogenic system using an integrated approach that combines sedimentary basin analysis, structural geology, and low-temperature thermochronology. I investigate the Cenozoic sedimentary record of the western Himalayan fold-thrust belts as an archive of early Himalayan evolution and the timing and nature of the India–Asia collision.
I apply zircon U–Pb geochronology and Nd–Sr isotopic analyses to constrain sediment provenance and the timing of the India–Asia collision. I integrate zircon and apatite (U–Th)/He thermochronology with apatite fission-track data to quantify the timing of deformation and exhumation across the Himalayan fold-thrust belts in western Pakistan. A central objective of my work is to evaluate and refine existing structural models by combining thermochronologic constraints with balanced cross-sections, ultimately providing a robust, time-resolved reconstruction of this part of the Himalaya.

Education
PhD Student, University of Potsdam (2022-present).
MS Geology, National Centre of Excellence in Geology, University of Peshawar, Pakistan. (2013-2018).
BS Geology, Department of Geology, University of Peshawar, Pakistan. (2006-2010).

Experience
• Guest Researcher, Institute of Geosciences, University of Potsdam (2023-24)
• Research Assistant, Institute of Geosciences, University of Potsdam (2022-23)
• Lecturer at the Department of Geology, University of Peshawar, Pakistan, September 2013 till date.

Publications
Research Gate
Google Scholar

2025
Hanif, M., Sabba, M., Abbasi, I.A. et al. Inferring paleoenvironmental changes from integrated facies analysis of the late Paleocene-early Eocene succession, Salt Range, Pakistan. Carbonates Evaporites 40, 60 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-025-01077-1.
Ali, N., Hanif, M., Mohibullah, M., Khan, A., Orakzai, A., Hashmi, S. I. (2025). On the Transition From Remnant Tethys Sea to Foreland Basin During the Late Paleogene in the Western Himalayas, Pakistan. Geological Journal, 0, 1–29. https://doi.org/10.1002/GJ.5176
Sajid, M., Wiedenbeck, M., Arif, M., Glodny, J., Ali, N., Ghani, H., and Stammeier, J. A. (2025). Tectono-magmatic evolution of the Indian crust in western Himalayas during Paleoproterozoic: Insights from Nanga Parbat and Indus syntaxis in northern Pakistan. Gondwana Research, 137, 299–317. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.GR.2024.10.006
2024
Anjum, M. N., Hidayat, H., Ali, N., Iqbal, U., and Yazdi, A. (2024). Petrographic, Mineralogical and Geo-mechanical Characteristics of Marble from Mohmand District, Pakistan: Implications for its Use in Construction Industry. International Journal of Economic and Environmental Geology, 15(1), 33–40. https://doi.org/10.46660/IJEEG.V15I1.237
2023
Ullah, S., Hanif, M., Radwan, A. E., Luo, C., Rehman, N. U., Ahmad, S., Latif, K., Ali, N., Thanh, H. V., Asim, M., and Ashraf, U. (2023). Depositional and diagenetic modeling of the Margala Hill Limestone, Hazara area (Pakistan): Implications for reservoir characterization using outcrop analogues. Geoenergy Science and Engineering, 224, 211584. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.GEOEN.2023.211584
2022
Ullah, S., Ali, N., Latif, K., Iqbal, S., Tahir, M., Hussain, H. S., Turab, S. A., Mumtaz, A., and Mohibullah, M. (2022). Paleoenvironments and sequence stratigraphy of the Early Jurassic Datta Formation, Chichali Nala, Surghar Range, Pakistan. Himalayan Geology, 43(1A), 111–121.
Ahmad, W., Zeb, S. F., Ali, N., Latif, K., Siyar, S. M., Khan, S. Petrophysical modelling of the Cretaceous Lower Goru Formation, Lower Indus Basin, Pakistan. Journal of Himalayan Earth Sciences. 2022. 55, 2, 57-67.
Anjum, M. N., Nazeer, A., Daud, F., Bhatti, A. H., Ahmad, S., Ali, N., Rehman, G. Mineralogical and reservoir characteristics of well cutting samples of sandstone of the Permian Tobra Formation from Adhi Field, Potwar Basin, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Hydrocarbon Research. 2022. 25, 21-34.
2021
Wadood, B., Khan, S., Li, H., and Ali, N. (2021). The Late Permian clastic–dominated carbonate shelf, Northwestern Pakistan: Implications for palaeoenvironments, palaeoclimate, and reservoir modelling. Geological Journal, 56(10), 4947–4975. https://doi.org/10.1002/GJ.4214
Hanif, M., Sabba, M., Ali, N., Rahman, M. U., Ali, F., and Swati, M. A. F. (2021). A multi-proxy based high-resolution stratigraphical analysis of the possible Palaeocene–Eocene boundary interval, Salt Range, Pakistan. Geological Journal, 56(1), 434–456. https://doi.org/10.1002/GJ.3912
2020
Rizwan, M., Hanif, M., Ali, N., and Ur Rehman, M. (2020). Microfacies analysis and depositional environments of the Upper Cretaceous Fort Munro Formation in the Rakhi Nala Section, Sulaiman range, Pakistan. Carbonates and Evaporites, 35(4), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1007/S13146-020-00639-9
2019
Özcan, E., Hohenegger, J., Yücel, A. O., Kayğili, S., Ali, N., and Hanif, M. (2019). Baculogypsina Sulaimanensis N. Sp. (calcarinidae) from the Priabonian of Sulaiman Range, Pakistan: a Possible Ancestor For the Recent Baculogypsina Sphaerulata. Journal of Foraminiferal Research, 49(4), 423–433. https://doi.org/10.2113/GSJFR.49.4.423
Özcan, E., Yücel, A. O., Erbay, S., Less, G., Kaygili, S., Ali, N., & Hanif, M. (2019). Reticulate Nummulites (N. fabianii Linage) and Age of thePellatispira-Beds of the Drazinda Formation, Sulaiman Range,Pakistan. International Journal of Paleobiology & Paleontology, 2(1), 1–10. https://medwinpublishers.com/article-description.php?artId=3266
2018
Özcan, E., Saraswati, P. K., Yücel, A. O., Ali, N., and Hanif, M. (2018). Bartonian orthophragminids from the Fulra Limestone (Kutch, W India) and coeval units in Sulaiman Range, Pakistan: a synthesis of shallow benthic zone (SBZ) 17 for the Indian Subcontinent. Geodinamica Acta, 30(1), 137–162. https://doi.org/10.1080/09853111.2018.1443654
Ali, N., Özcan, E., Yücel, A. O., Hanif, M., Hashmi, S. I., Ullah, F., Rizwan, M., and Pignatti, J. (2018). Bartonian orthophragminids with new endemic species from the Pirkoh and Drazinda formations in the Sulaiman Range, Indus Basin, Pakistan. Geodinamica Acta, 30(1), 31–62. https://doi.org/10.1080/09853111.2017.1419676
Babar, N., Mohibullah, M., Kasi, A. K., Ali, N., and Khan, A. (2018). Foraminiferal Biostratigraphy of the Eocene Kirthar Formation, western Sulaiman Fold-Thrust Belt. Journal of Himalayan Earth Sciences, 51(2A), 66–77.
Anjum, M. N., Ali, N., Rehman, Z. U., Ghayas, M., Ahmad, W. Rock Aggregate Potential of Limestone Units in the Khyber Formation, Pakistan. Int. J. Econ. Environ. Geol. Vol. 9 (4) 26-33, 2018.
Hashmi, S. I., Jan, I. U., Khan, S., Ali, N. Depositional, diagenetic and sequence stratigraphic controls on the reservoir potential of the Cretaceous Chichali and Lumshiwal formations, Nizampur Basin, Pakistan. 2018. JHES. V. 51, 2A, 2018. 44-65.
2016
Özcan, E., Ali, N., Hanif, M., Hashmi, S. I., Khan, A., Yücel, A. O., and Abbasi, I. A. (2016). A new Priabonian Heterostegina from the eastern Tethys (Sulaiman Fold Belt, West Pakistan): Implications for the development of eastern Tethyan Heterostegines and their paleobiogeography. Journal of Foraminiferal Research, 46(4), 393–408. https://doi.org/10.2113/GSJFR.46.4.393.
Özcan, E., Saraswati, P. K., Hanif, M., & Ali, N. (2016). Orthophragminids with new axial thickening structures from the Bartonian of the Indian subcontinent. Geologica Acta, 14(3), 283–298.
Khan, I., Ahmad, S., Arif, M., and Ali, N. (2016). Impact of diagenetic and depositional fabric on reservoir quality; a synthesis from Late Cretaceous and Early Paleocene sandstones in Eastern Sulaiman Range, Pakistan. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 9(5), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1007/S12517-016-2372-3
Khan, M., Arif, M., Ali, N., Yaseen, M., Ahmed, A., and Siyar, S. M. (2016). Petrophysical parameters and modelling of the Eocene reservoirs in the Qadirpur area, Central Indus Basin, Pakistan: implications from well log analysis. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 9(5), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1007/S12517-016-2373-2.
Saddique, B. Ali, N., Jan, I. U., Hanif, M., Shah, S. A., Saleem, I., Faizi, M. M., Arafat, M. Y. 2016. Petrophysical analysis of the reservoir intervals in Kahi-01 well, Kohat Sub-Basin, Pakistan. JHES, 2016. 49 (1), 30-40.
2015
Özcan, E., Hanif, M., Ali, N., and Yücel, A. O. (2015). Early Eocene orthophragminids (Foraminifera) from the type-locality of Discocyclina ranikotensis Davies, 1927, Thal, NW Himalayas, Pakistan: Insights into the orthophragminid palaeobiogeography. Geodinamica Acta, 27(4), 267–299. https://doi.org/10.1080/09853111.2015.1026795.
Jamal, T., Azhar, R., Haneef, M., Saboor, A., Ali, N., Swati, M. A. F., Uddin, Z. Microfacies and Diagenesis of Chorgali Formation, Buchal Kalan area, Chakwal, Pakistan. JHES, 2015. 48 (1), 14-25.
Saboor, A., Ali, F., Ahmad, S., Haneef, M., Hanif, M., Imraz, M., Ali, N., Swati, M. A. F., Zahid, M., Sadiq, I. A preliminary account of the middle Jurassic plays in the Najafpur Village, southeastern Hazara, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. JHES, 2015. 48 (1), 41-49.