Pakistan-China International Conference on Food-Medicine Homology, Nutrition, and Health held here at the Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST), with the participation of scientists, policymakers, regulators and industry experts from both countries, according to a Gwadar Pro's report.

Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal highlighted China’s experience as a model for shifting toward preventive healthcare, saying Pakistan must move beyond a treatment-focused system.

“This is where a global shift is happening. Today, the world is moving toward integrating medicine with nutrition, food, and plant-based therapies. This is where traditional systems like Chinese medicine and our own Unani and herbal medicine come in,” he said.

Referring to his recent visit, the minister noted: “A few months ago, I visited China and met with experts in traditional medicine. We had detailed discussions on how they have developed and regulated this sector.”

He said Pakistan is now taking steps to benefit from this experience, adding that a dedicated desk has been established within DRAP to build expertise in herbal and traditional medicines.

Coordinator General of OIC-COMSTECH, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, highlighted the concept of food-medicine homology, stating that food can play a key role in preventing diseases.

“In most parts of the world, something is either considered food or medicine. However, the Chinese approach is different.

They believe there is no strict boundary; instead, there is a spectrum,” he said.

“They have developed the concept of ‘food that heals’, food that can treat and prevent diseases — properly researched, correctly dosed, clinically validated, and strictly regulated.”

Prof. Dr. Liu Xinmin, Member of the WHO Expert Advisory Panel on Traditional Medicine, said the long-standing collaboration between the two countries has contributed to research, training and institutional linkages.

The conference also featured technical sessions on medicinal plants, clinical research, food safety and nutrition-based healthcare solutions, aimed at strengthening joint research and practical collaboration between Pakistan and China.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China