In Pakistan, 36 distinct cannabis-based products have been successfully created. The National Assembly Standing Committee on Science and Technology received an update on scientific research advancements on Wednesday from the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR), with an emphasis on developments in cannabis-based products and other fields.
Dr. Hussain Abidi, the chairman of PCSIR, stated that 36 cannabis-based products had been created. He voiced worries about the difficulties in promoting these goods in the upcoming years.
He said that over the previous three years, the labs have generated Rs. 2.5 billion in export revenue and have so far assisted in the creation of poll ink.
The need for more research in the pharmaceutical sector, where PCSIR’s role is anticipated to expand, was one of the topics of the discussion.The committee chairman demanded that these projects be finished on time and that research be accelerated to address the rising cost of pharmaceuticals.
According to the PCSIR chairman, the committee was informed that Rs. 120 million has been saved by solarising PCSIR facilities. He added that four 3D printers have been imported into Pakistan, three of which are already in use in Peshawar. Research will be conducted using these printers in a number of fields, including building.
Additionally, the committee examined the effectiveness of the National Seed Development and Regulatory Authority, which was set up under the Cabinet Division last year. Committee members requested prompt funding for PCSIR projects to bring new technologies and increase exports in Pakistan.
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Pakistan is making great efforts to control products made from cannabis. The primary regulatory framework is provided by the Control of Narcotics Substance Act of 1997, which made it illegal to produce, manufacture, or distribute cannabis without the necessary license. Nonetheless, under stringent guidelines, the government has permitted the manufacture and cultivation of cannabis for industrial, scientific, and medical uses.
To speed up this process, Pakistan established the Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority (CCRA). The management of cannabis derivative cultivation, extraction, refining, manufacturing, and distribution for both industrial and medical uses falls under the purview of this new entity. The CCRA ensures that all operations comply with both national and international legislation in order to avoid abuse and promote lawful uses of cannabis.
The regulatory structure also specifies maximum permissible THC levels, licence requirements, and sanctions for infractions. This all-encompassing strategy seeks to strike a compromise between the advantages of cannabis-based products and the requirement for efficient use regulation and monitoring.