By Our Reporter KARACHI - A Pakistan-China ethno-medicine research centre will be set up at the Karachi University’s International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS). The proposed centre will be set up under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the Hunan Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, People’s Republic of China, ICCBS and the city’s ZainabPanjwani Memorial Hospital (ZPMH). The cooperation is aimed at enhancing training and communication of health professionals, promoting collaboration between Hunan University of Chinese Medicine (included Hunan Academy of Chinese Medicine) and the ICCBS for research, faculty exchange and scholarship programmes. The MoU says: “The three parties are also planning to set up a Chinese medicine polyclinic at ZainabPanjwani Memorial Hospital. The Hunan Anbang Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd will participate in the establishment of Ethnomedicine (a study or comparison of traditional medicine practiced by various ethnic groups especially by indigenous peoples) Research Centre at the ICCBS.“It will also be responsible for manufacturing traditional Chinese medicines for Chinese and Pakistani markets and development of clinical research,” it added. The Chinese company will help establish a pharmaceutical company at the ICCBS for which terms and conditions would be discussed later. “This agreement will strengthen cooperation between the two countries and help professionals to learn from each other’s experiences and knowledge,” Professor Dr Wei Wang heading the 11-member Chinese delegation to the ICCBS said at the ceremony held to sign the agreement. ICCBS director Prof IqbalChoudhary said the accord would help develop Chinese medicinal projects in Karachi. “The agreement will be in effect for a period of five years from the date of execution and may be extended by mutual agreement in writing by both parties,” he said.Co-director of ZainabPanjwani Memorial Hospital Dr Khalid Shafi signed the MoU on behalf of his institution.
