In 1906, in undivided Indian capital Delhi, a devoted, determined, yet unworldly man, Hakeem Hafiz Abdul Majeed, laid the foundation of Hamdard Dawakhana.
This began as an herb shop and soon gained the reputation of the finest supplier of herbs. Even in these humble beginnings, the goals of Hamdard were lofty: Easing the suffering of the sick with healing herbs. Perhaps the strain of long ours and hard work cut off Hakeem Abdul Majeed's life in its prime; but his young son, Hakeem Abdul Hameed, with the blessings and encouragement of his mother, Rabia Begum, not only kept the institution in existence but expanded it. After helping in his little brothers upbringing and education, he included him in running the institution.
Now both brothers / Hakeem Abdul Hameed and Hakim Mohammed Said/ with their extraordinary drive, raised Hamdard from the status of a pharmaceutical company to that of a welfare organisation as well and transformed it into a Waqf or trust dedicated to the nation's health and education.
On independence from British rule, the newly created country of Pakistan beckoned to Hakim Mohammed Said, and he migrated to it.
A fledgling country and lack of means both posed challenges to him, but his dedication stiffened his resolve to overcome all difficulties.
Using the talents with which he had been gifted, Hakim Said raised Hamdard in Pakistan from two small rooms and some rented furniture to the level of an Eastern Medicine industry.
In 1953, he created a Waqf (Islamic irrevocable trust) in which almost all / and in 1985 the entire / profits of Hamdard Pakistan were made over for the trust to use in the development of health, education and similar nation building and philanthropic field. Hamdard Foundation Pakistan was created to manage these funds.
HAMDARD AS A INDUSTRY: Hamdard's central structure is based in Karachi, Pakistan, where all the herbal products are manufactured in modern plants. Apart from Karachi, its manufacturing units are also in operation in other big cities of Pakistan, to meet the growing demand.
In Lahore, a manufacturing plant equipped with the latest machinery is engaged in the production of syrups and medicines using modern techniques. Another plant at Peshawar is also one of the best of its kind.
Syrups, semi-solid and solid preparations are manufactured using automatic plants. In Humdard, the herbal preparations are made on the principles of the Greco-Arab system of medicine. Hamdard is engaged in the production of a large number of herbal products. Rooh Afza* is Hamdard's main product.
-- (Sugar based beverage containing natural flavours and herbal distillates) Hamdard has a team of over 2,000 employees throughout Pakistan, which includes hakims, doctors, scientists, pharmacists, technicians and other skilled and unskilled personnel.
Hamdard's products are distributed nation-wide through its zonal offices at Lahore, Peshawar and Rawalpindi plus a countrywide network of agencies at Hyderabad, Sukkur, Multan, Faisalabad, Quetta and Sargodha.
Its main sales channel, private distributors and stockists, are in thousands. Thus Hamdard's products are available in every nook and corner of the country.
HAMDARD INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX: A new industrial complex is set up, about 30 kilometers from the city, at the road leading to Madinat al-Hikmah, Karachi, where Rooh Afza section, covering an area of 32,000 square feet, and Naunehal Gripe Water section, comprising 29,000 square feet, have commenced.
The old manufacturing unit, located in Nazimabad, Karachi, will be shifted to Hamdard Industrial Complex in the near future. Hamdard Industrial Complex will have the capacity to fulfil Hamdard's requirement of manufacturing and preparation of its drugs and products for the next 15 years.
On account of these achievements, Hamdard has emerged as one of the leading manufacturers of herbal products and medicines in the subcontinent.
QUALITY CONTROL LABORATORY AT HAMDARD: Quality Control assures the high quality of materials used for producing various products. These are tested and evaluated, according to the specifications required for the particular medicines, by the Quality Control Laboratory.
Hamdard is the largest manufacturer of herbal medicines and products in Pakistan. The Quality Control Department of Hamdard is working under the guidelines set by World Health Organisation (W.H.O).
The modern knowledge and techniques required for the task is acquired from national and international sources. Physical, physico-chemical, chemical and microbiological testing of herbal raw materials, finished products and packaging materials, are carried out to ensure a high standard and quality of Unani medicines.
Hamdard's methods of standardisation and quality control have also been recognised by foreign countries, and Hamdard's various Unani medicines, herbal products and food supplements have been registered in those countries for import, and many other products are under process of registration in many other countries.
Realising the urgent need for a Centre of Excellence for Law, Hamdard University established a full-time School of Law in January 2001, based on the semester system. Hamdard School of Law offers 3-year graduate courses in legal studies, leading to the L.L.B. degree on a syllabus approved by the Pakistan Bar Council.
HAMDARD QUALITY POLICY STATEMENT: The policy of Hamdard Laboratories (Waqf) Pakistan is to provide best quality products to its customers. In order to achieve this objective it follows the quality assurance system and international requirement and W.H.O. standards.
TO PRODUCE QUALITY PRODUCTS, ADHERE TO THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPLES:
Procurement of best quality of raw material.
Following good manufacturing practices (G.M.P.) required for the pharmaceutical products.
-- Regular checking, and quality control of raw material, in-process / intermediate material and finished products.
-- With continuous training to all personnel under the total quality control (TQC) activities, employees are made conscious of quality and are totally committed to customer satisfaction. Managing Director