On 9th Dec 2019, H.E. Mr Imran Khan, Prime Minister of Islamic Republic of Pakistan inaugurated Pakistan’s first Science and Technology Park – the National Science & Technology Park (NSTP) held inside National University of Science and Technology. Prominent dignitaries at the event included Chief of Army Staff & Chairman NUST Board of Governors General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Major General Asif Ghafoor, Federal Minister for Science & Technology Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, Dr. Shafqat Mehmood, Admiral NUST and Lt Gen Naweed Zaman (NUST Rector), Ministers, Advisors to PM visited Zauq Group office at inaugural ceremony of National Science and Technology Park ( NSTP) held inside National University of Science and Technology Islamabad.
Group Director Mr. Rizwan Buttar briefed prestige guests about values of ZAUQ Group and their unique approach for solving social and commercial problems by using Technology and moving towards knowledge Economy. Guests were briefed regarding Patient Safety, Healthcare and Medicine Traceability initiatives of ZAUQ Group.
For value added Innovation, importance of research and collaboration of Academia, Corporate Sector and Regulatory Bodies were emphasized, ZAUQ Team explained how ZAUQ Group investing Time and Money to encourage research oriented collaborative innovation. Moreover Director Life Sciences at ZAUQ Group Mr. Shafeeq Haider highlighted the importance of establishing local vaccine manufacturing and Biotechnology facility in Pakistan because of its financial and strategical reasons. As current production of Vaccines of National Institute of Health is very small and limited.
Dr. Shafeeq Haider briefed Gen Qamar Javed bajwa about the strategic importance of local manufacturing of Vaccines, since 90 percent of vaccines are being imported especially from India. Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa agreed and also discussed with PM about the seriousness of situation with national security implications.
Importance of Biotechnology local manufacturing was highlighted as next generation warfare is shifting from traditional or nuclear to Information warfare, to Biotechnology warfare. Issues were raised for the vulnerability of Pakistan being susceptible regarding import of raw material from India and being used in medicine manufacturing in Pakistan. India can eradicate a whole generation of Pakistan by maneuvering their pharma API molecules which our pharma industry use as base material and vaccine seed, and we have no control or monitoring over the Quality.
PM asked then why we shouldn’t focus on importing vaccines from China, Dr. Shafeeq Haider Director Life Sciences ZAUQ Group agreed and stressed on self-reliance and importing Vaccine Bio Technology from better countries i.e. Singapore, Russia, East Europe, Cuba, Indonesia or Argentina, since these would be of better quality at comparatively low cost. Both PM Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa appreciated ZAUQ Group efforts and their strategic vision and offered support to solve social, commercial and strategic problems. Director ZAUQ Group Mr. Rizwan Buttar also briefed them about locally assembled
Pharma Traceability Machines made locally in Pakistan by Pharma Trax, a Pharmaceutical Project of ZAUQ Group.
ZAUQ Group Team thanked the delegation for visit. They offered few memorabilia sketches to PM and COAS as souvenirs.