First and foremost, I extend my deepest gratitude to Allah Almighty, our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), my supervisor Dr. Anam Moosa, and my beloved parents, especially my brother Muhammad Abid Mahmood, who supported me throughout my academic and personal journey.

Hailing from a humble village background in District Bahawalnagar, Tehsil Haroon Abad, I belong to a lesser-privileged and orphaned district of Southern Punjab. Despite the odds, I became the first member of my family to be admitted to a university. Not just that, I went on to become the first student from my village to secure admission in M.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture Plant Pathology.

I still remember my early schooling days at Government Higher Secondary School 123/6R. One of my most inspiring teachers, Sir Malik Akhtar, once told me that “Agriculture is one of the finest degrees after MBBS.” This statement stuck with me. I initially applied for BS Agriculture at UAF, but due to high merit, I couldn’t secure admission, which deeply disappointed me.

However, fate had other plans. When I learnt that the Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB) also offered Agriculture programs, I applied only for Agriculture and got selected. This marked the beginning of my transformation from a village boy to a nationally recognized young researcher and academic leader.

At IUB, I became an active member of various student societies under the Directorate of Students Affairs, especially under the mentorship of Dr. Azhar Hussain, which helped me polish my leadership and communication skills. By the end of my first year, I had built friendships and professional relationships across all departments and faculties of IUB and beyond, connecting with scholarship holders and students from foreign universities through platforms like the Rotaract Club of Bahawalpur City.

Alhamdulillah, I proudly hold:

• 16+ publications
• 27+ impact factor
• 100+ citations

My journey in the Department of Plant Pathology includes:

• Founding the Phytopathological Students Club under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Muhammad Naveed Aslam Malghani, Dr. Muhammad Raheel, and Dr. Ambreen Maqsood
• Serving as Coordinator, IUB Alumni Plant Pathology Chapter under Dr. Waqas Ashraf Bhatti and now under Dr. Atta ur Rehman Khan Niazi
• Holding executive positions such as Joint Secretary and General Secretary in the IUB Social Welfare Society led by Prof. Dr. Asif Naveed Ranjha
• Founding President of the IUB Climate Change Society, guided by Prof. Dr. Wajid Nasim Jatoi

I have been honored with five national awards, including:

• Agricultural Youth Award
• Young Researcher Award
• Prominent Researcher Award
• Independent Investigator Award
• Social Activist Award
• Young Leader Award

My Research Journey:

During my Master’s studies, I conducted impactful research on the biocontrol of Fusarium wilt of cotton using Bacillus species, supervised by Dr. Anam Moosa, and co-supervised by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Naveed Aslam Malghani and Dr. Muhammad Taimoor Shakeel.

Journey to a Fully Funded Ph.D. Abroad:

Driven by passion and ambition, I launched my scholarship platform, “Scholarship Mine,” on social media to help others and began my quest for a fully funded foreign Ph.D. scholarship.

I meticulously prepared:

• Document attestation: SSC & HSSC from the respective board/IBCC;
• BS & MS from the respective university, HEC.
• Final MOFA and apostille.
• Passport, Police Character Certificate, Physical Examination Form (Medical tests), Blood reports
• Recommendation letters, English Proficiency Letter, Bonafide Certificate, Thesis Abstract, CV, Certificates, and Research Proposal, Publication (if)

I reached out to professors via professional emails only during office hours and no more than two emails per institution. I recommend Hotmail, Outlook, or Yahoo Mail for such formal communication.

Alhamdulillah, I found an excellent match at the Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (GSCAAS). After an online interview via Tencent Meeting, we moved discussions to WeChat, finalised a research proposal, and I received my signed acceptance letter and research proposal.

Application Process:

I successfully submitted applications on the:

• CSC (Chinese Government Scholarship) Portal (filled out an online application for studying in China, uploaded the required documents, and submitted my application).
• GSCAAS University Portal (Sign up on the GSCAAS school application and fill it out after signing in and upload the required documents, and submit my application.

After careful review, I received the JW201 form and official Admission Notice. I applied for a Chinese visa and cleared all formalities, including biometrics and an interview. By the grace of Allah, my entire process was smooth and successful.

Final Message to Aspiring Students:

“If I, coming from a small village and humble beginnings, can achieve this with Allah’s help, so can you. Start your journey. If you ever face difficulties in applying for scholarships or navigating university life, feel free to reach out to me. I’m always here to help.”