Symposium Spotlight: How Karachi is Shaping the Future of Clinical Trials in Pakistan

Pakistan’s share of global drug trials is minimal

with the total revenue from clinical trials

reaching 67 billion USD

Press Release

Karachi: At a recent symposium, Dr. Zeeshan Nazir, Director of Pharmacy Services at the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), highlighted a significant disparity in global and local drug trial activities. He revealed that while over 9,000 drug trials are currently underway worldwide, only 53 of these are being conducted in Pakistan.

Global vs. Local Drug Trials

Dr. Nazir noted that Pakistan’s share of global drug trials is minimal. With the total revenue from clinical trials reaching 67 billion USD, Pakistan’s contribution remains a small fraction. He emphasized the urgent need for increased collaboration among stakeholders to enhance Pakistan’s presence in this lucrative field.

Symposium on Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials

Dr. Nazir’s comments came during the inaugural ceremony of the one-day symposium titled “Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial (RCCT) in Pakistan.” The event took place at the Prof. Salimuzzaman Siddiqui Auditorium, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, on Thursday.

The symposium, organized by the UNESCO Chair on Medicinal and Bio-Organic Natural Product Chemistry at ICCBS in collaboration with the Pakistan Academy of Sciences Sindh Chapter, gathered experts and officials to discuss advancements and challenges in clinical trials.

Keynote Speeches and Institutional Contributions

Dr. Saif-ur-Rahman Khattak, Director of Central Drug Laboratory at DRAP, and Prof. Dr. Muhammad Raza Shah, Chair holder of the UNESCO Chair on Medicinal and Bio-Organic Natural Product Chemistry, also delivered speeches. Dr. Naghma Hashmi joined them in addressing the audience.

Dr. Nazir reaffirmed DRAP’s commitment to maintaining stringent quality standards while ensuring timely assessments. He emphasized that DRAP’s regulatory role is crucial for public health, healthcare systems, and research and development.

Role of CBSCR and Future Directions

Dr. Nazir praised the Center for Bioequivalence Studies and Clinical Research (CBSCR) at the University of Karachi, recognizing its role in capacity building and problem-solving. He highlighted the institution’s efforts to provide research and academic solutions that benefit society.

In his speech, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Raza Shah commended CBSCR for offering a unique combination of expertise, resources, and advanced technology. He noted that CBSCR continually innovates to assist partners in navigating regulatory challenges and achieving operational excellence in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors.