ISLAMABAD — Pakistan must urgently localize drug development and reduce its dependence on imported pharmaceutical ingredients to safeguard its healthcare future, experts concluded at the IIUI natural products symposium held at the International Islamic University Islamabad.
The three-day event, formally titled the International Symposium on Natural Products Chemistry – Drug Discovery and Industrial Economy, brought together leading researchers from Germany, China, and Pakistan to explore breakthroughs in plant-based drug discovery, cancer therapies, and biomedical innovation. The IIUI natural products symposium served as a platform to connect academic research with industrial applications, drawing over 300 participants from universities, government, and the private sector.
Federal Health Minister Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Bharrat, addressing the gathering, called healthcare self-sufficiency a “strategic pillar” alongside food, water, energy, and defence. He warned that Pakistan’s reliance on imported Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) poses serious risks to national stability. “We cannot afford to remain dependent. Our biodiversity gives us the potential to build a natural products sector worth over $30 billion,” he said, urging collaboration between R&D centers and industry.
The symposium spotlighted a Technology Development Fund project led by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Riaz of IIUI, focused on developing curcumin-based therapeutics from locally sourced turmeric and identifying metformin-like compounds from indigenous medicinal plants. These initiatives were among the highlights of the IIUI natural products symposium, which emphasized turning research into market-ready solutions.
Keynote speakers included Prof. Bernhard Westermann of Martin Luther University, Germany; Prof. Yanfang Zheng of Guangzhou Medical University; and Dr. Jia Zan of Guangdong University of Technology. Topics ranged from nutraceutical potential and lung cancer immunotherapy to exosome-based brain therapeutics and rapid diagnostics.
More than 50 research posters by Pakistani MS and PhD scholars were showcased, reflecting growing academic engagement in natural products and applied biosciences. IIUI President Prof. Dr. Ahmed Saad Al-Ahmed reaffirmed the university’s commitment to global scientific partnerships and praised China–Pakistan and German collaborations that have trained numerous Pakistani researchers.
The IIUI natural products symposium concluded with awards and a directive from the health minister to submit a practical framework within a week for advancing domestic pharmaceutical production—signaling strong government support for industry-focused R&D.
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