KARACHI, Oct 31: A six-day "Pak-China workshop on Pharmacology and Standardization of Herbal Medicines" was jointly organized by the International Centre for Chemical Sciences (ICCS), HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry and the National Core Group in Chemistry at the University of Karachi.

The workshop, first of its kind, was sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology. The event focussed on the important field concerning health and industrial development. The KU Vice-Chancellor, Prof Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza, inaugurated the workshop on October 22.

More than 30 experts from leading herbal pharmaceutical organizations of Pakistan and research institutions participated in the bi-national moot.

In his address, Dr Qasim said the an ever-stronger interaction was needed between Pakistan and China in order to derive optimum benefit from precious herbs and plants.

He emphasized that the centuries long experience and research should now be updated in the light of latest scientific knowledge using modern equipment and techniques.

He invited native pharmaceutical organizations to come forward and extend their generous cooperation for the cause.

Dr Qasim expressed confidence that the varsity would make all-out efforts and provide all possible cooperation to promote academic and research activities in this regard.

Later, an iftar dinner was hosted in the evening by the VC in honour of the Chinese delegates. Consul General, Peoples Republic of China in Karachi also attended the dinner.

Meanwhile, the HEC Chairman, Prof Dr Atta-ur-Rehman, and Director ICCS held a meeting with the Chinese delegates at the HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, and expressed the need for increased efforts for linkages between the two countries in the fields of science and education.

It was told in the workshop that mild, safe and culturally acceptable usage, and the affordable cost of herbal and botanical products was attracting worldwide attention day by day and about 80 per cent of the world population relied on herbal remedies for their primary healthcare needs.

Herbal products were said to be doing a business of over $80 million annually.

A group of 10 eminent Chinese scientists from two research organizations of international repute namely the Institute of Materia Medica (China Academy of Traditional Medicines) and the Institute of Medicinal Plant attended the workshop.

The Chinese researchers presented their work and actively participated in the discussion and workshop sessions. Lectures and library 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 requirements of the world market.

At the end of the workshop, an MoU for cooperation was signed between the two countries. - PPI