LAHORE: (Tuesday, September 22, 2026): A new milestone in China–Pakistan cooperation in pharmaceutical research and traditional medicine was marked at the University of the Punjab New Campus, where the College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab, and the Shandong Academy of Chinese Medicine jointly unveiled the Medicinal Resources Research and Development Platform.
The unveiling ceremony was attended by Vice Chancellor University of the Punjab, Dr. Muhammad Ali, Dr. Muhammad Shahbaz, President of the China Pakistan Medical Association (CPMA), representing the Shandong Academy of Chinese Medicine and CPMA and Mr. Li Xiao. Senior academic and professional representatives, including Prof. Furqan Hashmi, Dean Hamid Saeed, Rana Umar Farooq CEO Shifa Healthcare group, faculty members, researchers and other distinguished guests, also participated in the ceremony.
Addressing the gathering, Vice Chancellor Dr. Muhammad Ali welcomed the initiative and highlighted the importance of strengthening international academic partnerships in pharmaceutical sciences, medicinal resources and research. He expressed support for collaborative research and knowledge exchange between Pakistani and Chinese institutions, emphasizing the potential of such cooperation to contribute to innovation, education and healthcare development.
Dr. Muhammad Shahbaz, President of CPMA, said that the establishment of the Medicinal Resources Research and Development Platform represents an important step toward building sustainable institutional cooperation between Pakistan and China in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors. He emphasized the need to connect academic research with practical applications, including medicinal-resource development, scientific research, education, technology transfer and future industrial collaboration.
Mr. Li Xiao expressed appreciation for the cooperation with the University of the Punjab and reaffirmed the Academy’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with Pakistani universities and professional organizations. He noted that the platform could provide a foundation for researchers and experts from both countries to exchange knowledge and explore new areas of cooperation.
The participants discussed opportunities for joint research, academic exchanges, scientific training, development and evaluation of medicinal resources, traditional medicine research, pharmaceutical innovation and technology transfer. The platform is expected to facilitate closer interaction among researchers, academics and pharmaceutical-sector stakeholders from Pakistan and China.
The leadership and representatives of both sides expressed their full support for the initiative, describing the unveiling as a significant development and a new chapter in China–Pakistan cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector.
The ceremony concluded with a shared commitment to further strengthen institutional linkages and transform the platform into a mechanism for meaningful research collaboration, capacity building and innovation. The initiative also reflects the broader spirit of China–Pakistan friendship by bringing together academic institutions, healthcare professionals and research organizations to explore new opportunities for cooperation in medicine and pharmaceuticals.
The Medicinal Resources Research and Development Platform is envisioned as a bridge connecting the scientific and academic communities of Pakistan and China and contributing to the development of modern pharmaceutical research while promoting cooperation in traditional and complementary medicine.