ISLAMABAD
\nIn a significant step toward fostering scientific advancement and regulatory excellence, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation\u2019s Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (OIC-COMSTECH) and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at a formal ceremony.
\nThe MoU was signed by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, Mustafa (PBUH), Coordinator General OIC-COMSTECH and Dr. Obaidullah, Chief Executive Officer of DRAP. The ceremony was attended by senior officials from both organizations, including directors from DRAP and members of the COMSTECH delegation.
\nThe MoU aims to strengthen collaboration between the two institutions, with a focus on enhancing regulatory capacity, promoting scientific cooperation, and facilitating the exchange of knowledge among OIC Member States. The priority areas include pharmaceuticals, vaccine development, biotechnology, alternative medicines, and digital health regulation.
\nIn his welcome address, CEO DRAP Dr. Obaidullah emphasized the urgency of building Pakistan\u2019s regulatory infrastructure. He highlighted the need for strategic initiatives in the indigenous production of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and vaccine manufacturing. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, in his remarks, underscored COMSTECH\u2019s commitment to supporting national and regional regulatory systems.
\nHe proposed organizing a national roadshow to showcase the research and development capacities of local academic and scientific institutions. He also offered support for training programs, registration of institutions in the OIC Technology and Innovation Portal, and expansion of the COMSTECH Scholarship Programme for regulatory and scientific personnel.
\nHe also proposed the development of a harmonized regulatory framework to facilitate cross-border trade of therapeutic goods among OIC Member States, drawing on successful models such as the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Furthermore, Prof. Choudhary assured COMSTECH\u2019s technical assistance in Pakistan\u2019s efforts to attain WHO Maturity Level-3, a benchmark of global regulatory competence and transparency.
\nThe signing of the MoU reflects the shared vision of COMSTECH and DRAP to promote innovation, self-reliance, and science-based governance in the health and pharmaceutical sectors. Both organizations reaffirmed their commitment to leveraging collective expertise to benefit public health systems across the Islamic world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD In a significant step toward fostering scientific advancement and regulatory excellence, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation\u2019s Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (OIC-COMSTECH) and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at a formal ceremony. The MoU was signed by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, Mustafa […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":471739,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-488259","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-national"},"yoast_head":"\n