H.E. Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General of OIC-COMSTECH, attended the national symposium Innovative Technologies for Drug Development and Biodefense at Government College University Faisalabad, a member of the COMSTECH Consortium of Excellence. The biodefense symposium convened leading scientists and scholars to explore how emerging technologies can accelerate drug discovery and reinforce biosafety practices across Pakistan.
The event brought together eminent researchers and postgraduate scholars from across the country to discuss emerging biomedical innovations and advanced therapeutic development. Sessions focused on the technical and strategic challenges of biodefense and biosafety, emphasizing the critical need for preparedness and resilient research frameworks in Pakistan.
In his keynote address, Dr. Choudhary underscored the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, cutting-edge research, and capacity building to address evolving biological threats. He highlighted that biotechnology, molecular diagnostics, and modern drug development tools must remain central to national research priorities and be integrated into long-term strategies for health security.
Dr. Choudhary also highlighted the need to nurture young scientific talent and expand laboratory and training capacity so that innovation-driven research can sustainably strengthen Pakistan’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to biological risks. The symposium provided a platform for cross-institutional partnerships and knowledge exchange aimed at translating research into practical solutions.
Participants left the biodefense symposium with a renewed focus on building scientific preparedness through collaborative research, investment in diagnostic and therapeutic technologies, and sustained support for postgraduate researchers who will lead future initiatives to safeguard national health security.
