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OIC scientists endorse herbal medicines
SCIENTISTS from OIC countries have suggested establishment of a network of researchers, government functionaries, industrialists and other stake-holders in the Islamic world for sustainable utilization of medicinal plants and promotion of traditional medicines.
At the concluding session of the six-day Comstech workshop on “Development of Medicines from Plants” last week, scientists, experts in natural products and plants medicine, government officials, policy makers and industrialists agreed that the Muslim world was blessed with tremendous medicinal plant resources and unbroken tradition of the use of medicinal plants for healthcare purposes.
They stressed the need for developing talents, enhancing knowledge about plants and preparing health-care products locally instead of exporting phyto-plants and importing herbal medicine from European countries. Some foreign scientists also suggested the use of HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry as a focal place for interaction by the scientists of the Islamic world working on traditional medicines.
Chairman of the concluding session, Dr Anwar Nasim, who is also the adviser on science to Comstech, observed that the recommendations to declare HEJ Institute as a network centre would be placed before other members of the OIC later for consensus and proper arrangements. He appreciated the participants of the session for their suggestions.
Acting director of HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, Dr Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary said HEJ was already facilitating scientists and students from other countries, including those of the Muslim countries, working in the filed of natural chemistry products.
The participants observed that the majority of the Muslims relied on herbal medicines for their health-care needs, and an organized research and development work in that field would lead to better health-care results.
Pakistani scientists and officials called for conservation of medicinal plants, database about plants being exported, initiating process for value addition, collection of indigenous knowledge about phyto-medicines and sharing of information by all Muslim countries.
MPhil, PhD fee reduced
The Sindh University Advanced Study and Research Board has reduced the fee package for MPhil and PhD and approved the new fee package for MPhil and PhD to promote research activities in the University of Sindh.
The decision was taken at a special meeting of the Advanced Study and Research Board, which was presided over by the university’s vice-chancellor on Monday.
The meeting also finalized the rules and regulations for the registration of candidates in MPhil and PhD programme in the faculties and to conduct research through course work.
Check on varsities
The minister in charge of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Prof Attaur Rahman, has expressed concern at mushroom growth of, what he called, substandard universities, in the country , and said that an effective system for evaluation of universities will be introduced soon.
Speaking at a press conference at the HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry on Monday, he said that a surge in the number of new universities, many of them of low quality, was harmful for education in the country, regretting granting of charters to such institutions.
Prof Rahman, who is also the chairman of the Higher Education Commission, said that to check the mushroom growth of such varsities, the federal cabinet, some one and a half year ago, had determined a policy for allowing setting up of varsities.
He said that the policy contained the minimum conditions regarding the area, building, and qualification of faculty, for a varsity, which he said was PhD degree. For acquisition of charter it was required to meet these conditions, he said. He pointed out that the new varsities, both in public and private sectors, were given a five-year period to meet such requirements.
Prof Atta said that one and a half year had already passed and if these institutions failed to meet the required standards within the stipulated timeframe, they would be reverted to their former statuses and their charters would be withdrawn.
Programmes had been initiated to increase the number of PhD qualified faculty members in our universities.
Lab inaugurated at NIH
An advanced molecular virology sequencing laboratory was inaugurated at the National Institute of Health (NIH) on Sept 11. The lab, which will help carry out, in Pakistan, genetic sequencing of viruses, would initially be utilised for molecular analysis of the polio virus, eradication of measles and other preventable childhood diseases. Earlier, Pakistan had to depend on the Atlanta-based Centre for Disease Control (CDC) for such tests.
The lab was inaugurated by Parliamentary Secretary for Health Ms Raheela Yahya Munawar on behalf of the health minister. The participants were told that the laboratory was the first hi-tech facility of its kind in Pakistan as well as in the entire Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR).
Speaking on the occasion, Ms Munawar said the lab was a symbol of Pakistan’s commitment to achieving technological advancement in the health sector. She said the lab was a living example of collaboration and teamwork between the Government of Pakistan and its international partners. — Dawn ScienceDotcom Report
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