GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN

TRADE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF PAKISTAN

(Formerly EPB)
3rd Floor, Block A, Finance & Trade Center
Shahrah-e-Faisal, Karachi, Pakistan
UAN: 111-444-111, Ext: 339
Tel: +92-21-9201508, Fax: +92-21-9206474
Email: uzma.osman@tdap.gov.pk Website: www.tdap.gov.pk

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

From : WTO Cell, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan -TDAP (formerly EPB)

Date : April 28th, 2008

Trade Development Authority of Pakistan, Ministry Of Health and JPMC,

jointly organize a Seminar on 'Clinical Research Management in Pakistan'.
To promote Clinical Trial Management in Pakistan and create awareness about the opportunities
in this sector, to create a niche for Pakistan in this US $ 60 billion global sector, the Trade
Development Authority of Pakistan in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Jinnah
Postgraduate Medical Centre, organized a two-day Seminar and Workshop titled "Clinical
Research Management in Pakistan". Eminent Speakers from Pharmaceutical MNCs, Local and
International CROs of Pakistan, UK, USA, Germany, Singapore and Representatives of
Ministry of Health, IPO and TDAP delivered substantive presentations at the event.

Mr. Tariq Ikram, the Minister of State and CE, TDAP, while outlining the main objectives of
the seminar, stated that it was time to understand Clinical Trial Management, what Pakistan can
offer to the Foreign CRO's, identifying the gaps in our system for the same and how to make the
environment more viable for the foreign countries to invest in Pakistan for Clinical Research.

Mr.Ikram also informed the participants that "the Ministry of Commerce has taken the lead in
not only understanding the importance of the Services sector as an engine for growth but has
also taken concrete steps to encourage the growth of this sector. Clinical Trials Business is one
sub-sector, which offers tremendous potential for growth in Pakistan due to its competitive and
comparative advantage which includes large population, available of English language trained
physicians etc."

The Chief Guest of the concluding session, Ms Sherry Rehman, Federal Minister for
Information, emphasized that "Pakistan desperately needs a new National Health Policy for
which the government's clear commitment is to have clear integrated goals supported by higher
resources and better planning coupled with serious investments in R and D." Ms Rehman
strongly highlighted that at this point in time public-private partnership can play a key role to
help us achieve our targets in Clinical Trials for quality output.
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Dr Rashid Jooma, Director JPMC, while addressing the participants mentioned that "Pakistan
has all the right ingredients in order to conduct Clinical Trials, only proper co-ordination and
follow-up is required for strengthening the execution which would in the end largely benefit the
country in all respects."

The foreign speakers at the seminar which included Dr. Benedict Blayney, Regional Medical
Head (Sanofi-Aventis); Dr. Guljit Chaudhri (i3Research, India); Anand Tharmaratnam
(Quintiles, India); Dr. Celia Habita (Arrianne Consulting, USA) and William Sharbough
(PPD), deeply appreciated the initiative of the government in this regard at the occasion.
Speakers which also included, Mr. K.A. Lashari, Secretary, Ministry of Health; Prof. Dr.
Shaharyar, King Edward Medical University; Dr. Farooq Ghani, Aga Khan University; Dr.
Iffat Yazdani, GSK, Pakistan; Taha Kisat, EACS; Huma Qureshi, Executive Director PMRC
and Mr. Yasin Tahir, IPO, shared their knowledge, experiences and observations, stating that it
would help recognize and encourage the need of having Clinical Trial Management in Pakistan,
since CROs offered opportunities to enhance the health care facilities to conduct clinical
research and data management as per the international standards which would automatically
result in quality training of the health care providers and management of research in Pakistan. It
was also brought to light by the speakers that timely and adequate planning is required to
promote and create awareness about the opportunities in this sector so as to create a niche for
Pakistan in this US $ 60 billion global sector.
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For further information, please contact:

Uzma Osman
Manager Media and Publicity
WTO Cell
Trade Development Authority of Pakistan

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