Homeopathic, herbal industries: Inclusion of alternative medicine sector will catalyze growth

LAHORE: The historic inclusion of the alternative medicine sector in the first Pak-China Business-to-Business (B2B) Conference is set to steer the country’s homeopathic and herbal industries onto an unprecedented trajectory of growth and modernization.

The landmark bilateral engagement has culminated in substantial investment commitments and strategic technology transfer agreements by Chinese enterprises, marking a phenomenal breakthrough that scales up prospects for massive financial expansions in the near future.

Expressing profound satisfaction over the successful conclusion of the high-level trade forum, Kashif Aslam Malik, President of the Pakistan Association of Alternative Medicine (PAAM), termed the event a monumental milestone for the alternative healthcare industry. On behalf of PAAM and the entire pharmaceutical manufacturing fraternity, Kashif Aslam Malik extended deep gratitude to the Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Syed Mustafa Kamal, for his visionary leadership and unwavering patronage, which made this historic integration possible.

Kashif Aslam Malik also highly commended and expressed special thanks to the Chief Executive Officer of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), Dr Obaid, for their extraordinary efforts in advancing the alternative medicine landscape.

He highlighted that the proactive guidance of the DRAP leadership played a pivotal role in effectively preparing the Pakistani delegation and ensuring a robust, impactful representation at the bilateral summit. Furthermore, the PAAM President acknowledged the indispensable role played by the Ministry of Commerce, the Board of Investment (BOI), and the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), thanking them for their round-the-clock dedication to making the conference an absolute success.

Elaborating on the strategic outcomes, Kashif Aslam Malik noted that Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal recognized the intrinsic socio-economic worth of the alternative healthcare sector by facilitating the participation of 47 premier Pakistani alternative medicine companies. Through this elite bilateral platform, highly encouraging progress has been achieved regarding joint ventures worth billions of rupees, cross-border transfer of cutting-edge manufacturing technologies, and boosting international exports of Pakistani homeopathic and herbal products, the economic dividends of which will soon manifest across the national landscape.

He reiterated that this high-level recognition at the Ministry of Health and DRAP levels serves as a resounding testament to the success of PAAM’s agenda, which is fundamentally dedicated to bringing alternative medicine systems into the mainstream while ensuring strict regulatory alignment and industrial stabilization. The PAAM profoundly values this historic cooperation from the federal government, regulatory bodies, and auxiliary trade institutions, and remains immensely optimistic that under the leadership of Syed Mustafa Kamal, the official patronage and structural empowerment of the alternative medicine sector will continue to scale new heights.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026