KARACHI: In a joint effort to prioritise the well-being of their respective populations, Chinese and Pakistani institutions have announced a strengthened collaboration in the fields of nutrition, health, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
Ningbo University in China and the Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD) at the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, have unveiled their plans to conduct space breeding and quality evaluation of medicinal plants and key food crops.
During a meeting held at the H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi the other day, Professor Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Director of ICCBS and Coordinator-General of COMSTECH, expressed the shared intentions. He highlighted that a four-member Pakistani delegation, led by Sindh Minister for Health and Population Welfare Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, recently returned from a productive 12-day visit to China. Prof. Choudhary, along with two other ICCBS scholars, were part of this delegation.
Prof. Choudhary shared that the delegation engaged in fruitful health dialogues with Chinese health departments, hospitals, institutions, and enterprises, exploring opportunities for cooperation in the fields of health and medicine between China and Pakistan, among other topics. He further emphasised that Dr. Azra had assured her Chinese counterparts and institutions of the Sindh government's unwavering support for the success of collaborative projects. Additionally, she proposed the initiation of a joint project for research and development, as well as the production of complementary food for maternal and child health in the Sindh province. Moreover, she recommended establishing institutional linkages between the Institute of Food Science and Technology, Beijing, and ICCBS, Sindh's premier research institution.
Underlining the collaboration between Ningbo University and Karachi University, Prof. Choudhary highlighted their focus on space breeding and quality evaluation of medicinal materials and key food crops. The institutions also aim to develop nutrition and health products suitable for pregnant and lactating women and infants in Pakistan, ensuring compliance with Pakistani laws and regulations for their marketing.
During the visit to the Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the delegation expressed significant interest in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Prof. Choudhary noted that both sides exchanged ideas and information on various topics, including talent exchange, the establishment of a TCM teaching system, clinical research, and the compilation of China-Pakistan herbal books.
Prof. Choudhary emphasized the importance of promoting traditional medicine within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which encompasses 1.9 billion people across four continents. He acknowledged that the OIC world faces numerous security and development challenges, as well as the menace of violent extremism.
