PESHAWAR: The University of Peshawar has planned to do a research to find ways for better exports of local pharmaceutical products.

According to a news release issued by the university here on Wednesday, the ‘bioequivalence study of the locally manufactured pharmaceutical products for exports’ will be carried out by the pharmacy department under the auspices of the Office of the Research Innovation and Commercialisation.

The release said the decision for the purpose was made during a meeting between representatives of pharmaceutical companies in the province and UoP vice chancellor Professor Rasul Jan.

“The aim of the research is to boost drug exports.”

Imtiaz Ahmad, who led pharmaceutical industry representatives, and the vice chancellor also discussed the proposed establishment of ISO certification and FDA-approved laboratories in the province.

They decided to consult the relevant quarters on declaring the UoP pharmacy department an appellant laboratory for local drug companies.

The vice chancellor said the location disadvantage and more importantly the delicate security situation in the province were the main cause of worry for local industry.

He said energy crisis and costly raw material had made it very difficult for local drug companies to compete with those from parts of the country.

Professor Rasul said not only the bioequivalence study would build the consumers’ confidence on the efficacy of pharmaceutical products but it would also lead to their higher exports.

He said universities was supposed to build knowledge economies and increase liaison with industry for socioeconomic development of the country.

Noted among those in attendance were ORIC director Professor Mohammad Nisar and chairman of the UoP pharmacy department Professor Zafar Iqbal. —Bureau Report

Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2014