KARACHI, June 6: The Institute of Chinese Materia Medica (ICMM) in collaboration with the International Centre for Chemical Sciences (ICCS), University of Karachi will help Pakistani and Chinese herbal pharmaceutical industries in manufacturing quality and value added products.

The herbal pharmaceutical industries in Pakistan will greatly benefit from this initiative, and as a result exports of herbal products from Pakistan will likely be increased, whereas the annual herbal export of China is more than US$25 billion.

This was stated by the Acting Director of the ICCS, Prof Dr M Iqbal Choudhary, while presiding over a meeting of the faculty members held on Monday at the HEJ Research Institute.

He said the decision to this effect had taken in a meeting during a visit of the ICMM officials at the institute in May.

“Both parties will provide technical assistance to improve the quality and value of major products of the industries with characteristics of good efficacy, good potential market prospects and aimed to be marketed in both the countries and internationally as well,” he said.

Dr Choudhary further added that they would not only identify the required human resources to work on the assignments but also help in the conformation of efficacy by means of preliminary evaluations.

He mentioned that the cost involving further research and development after preliminary evaluation would be paid by the company or potential industrial partners.

“Through this programme experienced scientists of the two institutions will help industries in the standardization, quality control, product improvement and efficacy trials,” he said. — PPI