Islamabad : On the request of the Senegalese Pharmaceuticals Regulatory Agency, OIC-COMSTECH hosted a five-day official visit of a high-level delegation from Senegal to Pakistan. The visit focused on exploring the infrastructure and operations of WHO-prequalified drug testing laboratories in Punjab.
On the first day, the delegation held a meeting with H.E. Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Chaudhary, Coordinator General, COMSTECH. Prof. Chaudhary highlighted that COMSTECH is providing technical support to 57 OIC member countries in the fields of science, technology, research, innovation, and health-related regulations.
Senegal, a Muslim country with a population of 18 million in the Sub-Saharan African region, is actively working to strengthen its regulatory framework in line with international standards.
Day 1:
The delegation visited the WHO-Prequalified Drug Testing Laboratory, Rawalpindi, where laboratory staff briefed them on the WHO requirements related to the “4Ms”: Men, Materials, Methods, and Machines.
Day 2:
The team visited the Drug Testing Laboratory, Faisalabad, where pharmacists elaborated on the integrity of sample handling and the implementation of the Quality Management System (QMS).
Day 3:
The delegation met with Khawaja Imran Nazir, Minister for Health and Population, Government of Punjab, at DTL Lahore. The Minister expressed his commitment to supporting not only Senegal but also other OIC member states through the COMSTECH platform. He announced an upcoming meeting with Prof. Iqbal Chaudhary at the COMSTECH Secretariat.
During the visit, the Senegalese team observed high-tech equipment, internationally standardized testing methods (USP, EP, BP), documentation procedures, procurement systems, and reagent and solvent quality protocols.
Day 4:
Delegates visited the Punjab Drug Testing and Research Centre, Sundar Industrial Estate, Lahore, accompanied by Dr. Munawar Hayat, Director. The lab’s role as a Bioavailability/Bioequivalence (BA/BE) Centre and Bioanalytical Laboratory was explained.
Day 5:
The final day included a visit to the Drug Testing Laboratory, Multan, where Dr. Muqaddis provided a comprehensive overview of quality assurance systems, the fireproof archive room, safety protocols, human resources, and international proficiency testing. The training and capacity-building initiatives with global organizations like the UK regulatory bodies, Turkiye, WHO, PNAC, and USP were also shared.
The Senegalese delegation appreciated and thanked Prof. M. Iqbal Chaudhary, Coordinator General of COMSTECH, for arranging an informative and productive visit. They expressed their commitment to enhancing the capacity of Senegal’s drug testing infrastructure to achieve WHO prequalification standards.
Dr. Qalandar Khan, Additional Secretary, and Muhammad Sohail, Director General, Directorate of Drugs Control Punjab, facilitated the Punjab visit. Dr. Abdur Rashid, Consultant (Health Initiatives), OIC-COMSTECH, served as a key liaison, leveraging his extensive experience in regulatory affairs both nationally and internationally.
This visit marks a significant milestone in COMSTECH’s mission to strengthen and support OIC member states in regulatory and health systems development.
