Pak, China to collaborate in animal IVF, cloning technologies

ISLAMABAD – A Chinese cell biotechnology company and the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to collaborate in the research and development of animal In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) and cloning technologies.

Muhammad Ishaq, Secretary PARC and Dr. Qaisar Shahzad, Director Royal Cell Biotechnology (Pakistan) signed the LoI in the presence of Chairman PARC Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Ali, according to the PARC.

Under the LoI, the Chinese company will assist PARC in establishing an animal IVF lab at the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), the research arm of the PARC, Dr. Qaisar told Gwadar Pro. He said that the scientists of the company will also train Pakistani scientists at NARC in animal IVF and cloning technologies.

Dr. Qaisar said that the company had already established a state-of-the-art animal IVF lab in Lahore and will assist PARC in setting up similar labs at NARC.

Furthermore, the company will soon receive a delegation of scientists from the Guangxi Buffalo Research Institute of China. “They will place cloning equipment worth around PKR 25 million and also train our Pakistani staff in cloning technologies. We will then train the NARC scientists”, Mr. Qin Junjie, CEO of the company said. He said that the company will be the first organisation to conduct research in animal cloning in Pakistan.