Islamabad: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation's Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance collaboration in science, technology, and regulatory affairs.
The MoU was signed by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General OIC-COMSTECH, and Dr. Obaidullah, Chief Executive Officer DRAP, with the aim of advancing joint initiatives in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, biotechnology, and health product regulation. Under this agreement, both organizations committed to developing joint regulatory capacity-building programs, organizing international scientific events, and fostering expert exchanges among OIC member states.
The agreement encompasses training programs for regulators from OIC countries, particularly those from Africa, at DRAP's facilities. It also includes collaboration through COMSTECH's Consortium of Excellence (CCOE) and Distinguished Scholars Programme to enhance scientific research and development at DRAP. COMSTECH and DRAP will jointly work on developing regulatory frameworks for the import and export of therapeutic goods among OIC nations, drawing inspiration from global models such as the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and African Medicines Agency.
The partnership also focuses on strengthening regulatory practices using digital technologies and supporting member states in achieving WHO Global Benchmarking Tool (GBT) Maturity Level-3. Moreover, knowledge exchange initiatives and the creation of a regional and international funding mechanism for national regulatory authorities (NMRAs) are part of the collaboration.
A key proposal put forward by Prof. Choudhary during the signing ceremony was the organization of a two-day joint Expo to showcase tangible, scalable and commercially available projects and products in biotechnology and biomedical sciences. The event will involve the participation of industry, academia, policymakers, RandD institutions, and other major stakeholders. Special emphasis will be placed on indigenous RandD related to the production of human and animal vaccines, which will be prominently featured during the expo.
The MoU, effective immediately for a period of five years, outlines mutual cooperation principles including transparency, information sharing, and respect for institutional mandates. Both parties have agreed to appoint dedicated focal persons for direct communication and coordination.
This strategic partnership marks a significant step toward strengthening the scientific and regulatory ecosystem in Pakistan and across OIC Member States.