The Pakistan-China International Conference on Food and Drug Synthesis, Nutrition and Health was inaugurated at the Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology, with the participation of a select group of prominent scientists, policymakers, regulatory bodies and industry experts from Pakistan and China, with the aim of promoting bilateral cooperation in the fields of health sciences, nutrition and traditional medicine.
In his speech, Pakistani Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal described the conference as a timely initiative on a very important topic.
He called on the Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to work effectively to promote traditional medicine, noting that the health system in Pakistan should pay more attention to prevention, ensuring that citizens remain healthy rather than relying solely on treatment after contracting diseases.
The minister expressed his hope that Pakistan would become a leading example in adopting and promoting traditional herbal medicine. He also noted that despite a strong heritage of local traditional healing practices, the sector has not seen the necessary progress due to weak institutional care, a lack of organized support, and ineffective marketing.
For his part, COMSTECH General Coordinator Professor Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Chaudhry stated that the concept of food-drug synergy reflects the role of food not only as a source of nutrition but also as a means of disease prevention and health promotion. He explained that Pakistani-Chinese cooperation in the fields of traditional medicine, natural product research, and biomedical sciences represents an outstanding model of scientific diplomacy.
He added that China's extensive experience in traditional Chinese medicine, combined with Pakistan's rich biodiversity and abundant medicinal plants, offers significant opportunities for innovation. He also reaffirmed COMSTECH's commitment to supporting evidence-based traditional medicine, establishing joint research centers, transferring technology, and developing cross-border pharmaceutical and nutrient therapeutic industries.
In his opening remarks, Professor Dr. Liu Xinmin, a member of the WHO Expert Advisory Group on Traditional Medicine and a senior scientist at Ningbo University, described the conference as a celebration of the deep-rooted scientific brotherhood between Pakistan and China.
He reviewed more than two decades of cooperation with Pakistani institutions in the fields of herbal medicine, nutrition, space medicine, and drug discovery. He also noted the establishment of Sino-Pakistani centers for traditional Chinese medicine, joint laboratories for research and development in herbal medicines, the training of Pakistani doctors in China, and the successful regulatory approvals obtained for Chinese health products in Pakistan.
He commended Professor Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Chaudhry for his pivotal role in strengthening scientific relations between China, Pakistan, and the Islamic world. The conference continued with technical sessions that included presentations by leading researchers from Pakistan and China on medicinal plants, clinical trials, food safety regulations, pharmaceutical cooperation, and nutrition-based health solutions.
The opening session began with the playing of the national anthems of Pakistan and China, followed by a recitation from the Holy Quran. Professor Dr. Atiya Wahab from the Panjwani Centre for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research at the University of Karachi then introduced the conference. Keynote speakers included COMSTECH General Coordinator Professor Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Chaudhry, Chinese scientist Professor Dr. Liu Xinmin, Chief Executive Officer of the Pakistan Drug Regulatory Authority Dr. Obaidullah, and Federal Health Minister Mr. Mustafa Kamal. Dr. Dabir Ahmed Khan delivered a speech on behalf of the Sindh Health Minister Dr. Azra Fazal Bijoh, and Mr. Khusro Parvez Khan, Head of the Islamabad Campus of the Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST), also addressed the audience during the opening ceremony.
(is over)
