A six-day Pak-China workshop on pharmacology and standardisation of herbal medicines concluded with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the scientist of the HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry and China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicines regarding exchange of information on research to accelerate work on herbal medicines.
HEJ spokesman on Monday said that the workshop was first of its kind in Pakistan. The federal ministry of science and technology had sponsored it.
The event focused on the important field concerning health and industrial development. More than 30 experts from leading herbal pharmaceutical organisations of Pakistan and research institutions participated in the workshop.
A group of ten eminent Chinese scientists from two research organisations of international repute i.e., Institute of Materia Medica (China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicines) and Institute of Medicinal Plant also attended the workshop.
They presented their works and actively participated in the discussion and workshop sessions.
Lectures and laboratory sessions were also conducted on the occasion. Classification, fingerprinting, detection of toxic substances in herbal pharmaceuticals and toxicology and pharmacology of phyto-pharmaceuticals were given focus in the workshop, keeping in view the world market.
Vice Chancellor of the University of Karachi, Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, in his inaugural remarks said that the present global scenario and rapidly changing conditions demanded an ever-stronger interaction between the two nations to derive optimum benefit from the herbs and plants.
He said that the centuries-long experience and research should now be updated in the light of the latest scientific knowledge using modern equipment and techniques.
He invited the local/national pharmaceutical organisations to come forward and extend generous hand of co-operation to promote the research and academic activities in this regard.
It was brought out in the workshop that mild, safe and culturally acceptable use and affordable cost of herbal and botanical products are attracting world-wide attention day by day and about 80 percent of the world population rely on herbal remedies for their primary health care needs.
Herbal products are doing a business of over $80 million annually.
Earlier, Professor Attaur-Rehman, Chairman, Higher Education Commission and Director, ICCS, held a meeting with the Chinese delegates at the HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry and expressed need of increased efforts for linkages between the two countries in the field of science and education.
He said that Pakistan would benefit from the rich Chinese experience in herbal medicines.
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