KARACHI: German universities were providing technical assistance to Dr Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, University of Karachi (UoK) to set up a Virology Center.
Pakistani and German scientists expressed these views in a meeting recently held at the Dr Panjwani Center, said a statement on Thursday.
They observed that although Pakistan has the first highest global burden of viral diseases, the country lacks the national capacity in the field of virology. The country has suffered a dilemma of infectious diseases such as dengue, Crimean-Congo fever, hepatitis, measles, and polio etc, they added.
Director, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi Prof Dr Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary arranged the meeting which was also attended by German Consul General in Karachi Eugen Wollfarth, and Director, Institute of Medical Virology and Epidemiology of Viral Diseases, Tuebingen University, Germany, Prof Dr Iftner Thomas.
Other officials of the international centre were also present on the occasion.
Prof. Iqbal Choudhary welcomed the visiting German scholars to the international centre and said that the virology centre was being built in collaboration with Germanys Tuebingen University.
This collaboration contains technical assistance, faculty and technicians training, guidance in building development etc, he added.
The vision of the Virology Center, ICCBS is to improve the health status in Pakistan as the country has suffered a lot from infectious diseases such as dengue, Crimean-Congo fever, hepatitis, measles, and polio etc, he said.
The virology centre would provide quality services by advancing the virology research in laboratory technology, training, and rapid diagnostics, he added.
This centre provides the excellence in virological research, to conduct a scientific investigation on viral and other diseases, to contribute knowledge policies and practices, and to engage in capacity development for improved public health in Pakistan, he said.