Pulwama, Dec 1: Protech Bio Pharma Private Limited, a pharmaceutical company jointly set up by a Pandit and his Muslim friend has become the first of its kind in the Valley to export medicines to Central Asia.
 Located in Lassipora Industrial Estate in this South Kashmir district, the company, a joint venture between Deepak Koul and Waheed-ul-Rehman, on Wednesday dispatched its first consignment worth USD 18,5000.
 “Ours is primarily an export oriented company with an eye on the international market,” Deepak Koul, Managing Director of the company said, adding that it was probably for the first time that a company from the Valley was exporting pharmaceutical products to abroad.
 He said the consignment would first go to Amritsar from where it would be exported to Tashkent and other central Asian countries.
 By next year the company has plans to export its products to Latin American countries as well.
 “We have set up our plant strictly as per the latest WHO (World Health Organisation) standards and it is first of its kind in the valley,” he said, adding that but for its size the plant was at par with some of the best plants in the country.
 The company has set a hi-tech laboratory with separate sections for chemical, instrumental and micro-biological tests.
 “There is a sophisticated system for air handling for each process, water treatment with loop system and compressed air utilities with all systems for removing moisturizers and oil impurities,” he said.
 He said the lab not only had facilities for quality testing of the salts but also impurity analysis of medicines.
 “Special measures have been taken for avoiding cross contamination between various processes, separate man and material movement and uniflow system,” he added.
 Company’s chairman, Waheed-u-Rehman hoped that company will go a long way in exploring the talent from the valley and also creating employment avenues for the local youth.
 “Initially, the company shall generate direct employment for up to 75 persons, which may later go up to 200. In addition, substantial indirect employment shall also be generated,” he said.
 About their partnership, Deepak said: “We have been family friends since two generations now and are emotionally attached with each other. Though our family migrated from here but we quite often prefer to stay at his (Rehman’s) place”.
 He said that he had received lot of support and love from the people in Kashmir and this made him make his mind to start the venture at his homeland rather than outside.
 Senior Drug Inspector Manufacturing, Tabassum Akhtar of  Drugs and Food Control Department had all praise for the pharmaceutical company. “The Protech Bio Pharma Limited has made the state proud. The company has achieved a rare feat by becoming the first in the Valley to export its products and this has become possible because of the quality it has maintained”.
 Others present on the occasion of flag off of the first batch of consignment included Bashir Ahmad Lone, JK Bank President, Laik Pervez   General Managar DIC Pulwama, Sajad Qadri and  General Manager  SIDCO.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 1 Dec 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 1 Dec 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 2 Dec 2011 00:00:00 IST