MINGORA: A two-day national symposium kicked off here on Thursday to highlight the importance of medicinal plants grown in Swat.

The ‘national symposium on economic development through plants cultivation’ was organised by the Swat University’s Centre for Plant Science and Biodiversity. Swat University’s vice-chancellor Dr Jehan Bakht presided over the symposium which was attended by teachers of Quaid-i-Azam University and Agriculture University, Peshawar, and heads of the local varsity’s various departments, faculty members and students.

After inaugurating the event, Dr Bakht said that Swat valley was not only famous for its natural beauty it also held a peculiar status of producing various types of medicinal plants that could not be found anywhere else.

“Proper and timely use of medicinal plants can protect people’s health from different diseases,” he said.

The VC stressed the need for proper research work in medicinal plants and said that the faculty members should encourage students in this regard. “Proper research is essential for the speedy growth and industrialisation of medicinal plants,” he said. Dr Zahoor Ahmad Swati, vice-chancellor of Agriculture University, Peshawar, said that Pakistan in general and Swat valley in particular was rich with all kinds of natural resources, which were so far untapped.

“Both awareness campaign and research work are necessary to raise awareness among the people of making good use of these gifted resources,” he said.

Highlighting the economic importance of medicinal plants, Dr Swati said that the total global market business of medicinal plants stood at $60 billion in which part of the Swat district was only Rs66 million.

Dr Naveeda Akhtar and Dr Abdur Rasheed were also addressed the participants on the importance of medicinal plants.

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2016