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Sadia Rashid, President, Hamdard Group - Pakistan
Sadia Rashid, President, Hamdard Group - Pakistan

Hamdard has a vast history of not only producing wholesome quality products but also giving back to the community

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Published: Tue 23 Mar 2021, 11:24 AM

Last updated: Tue 23 Mar 2021, 1:37 PM

History

Hamdard started its journey from a small shop in an area of old Delhi, in 1906. Founded by an accomplished physician, Hakim Hafiz Abdul Majeed, Hamdard quickly gained renown as a distinguished eastern medicine manufacturer. Then, in Karachi, after the creation of Pakistan, his younger son and a visionary physician, Hakim Mohammed Said, migrated to the newly-formed country and started Hamdard Pakistan in a two-room rented clinic of Tibb-i-Unani in 1948. Under his leadership, Hamdard soon became a success story with its respected and well-liked products, especially Rooh Afza syrup and effective herbal medicines. Hamdard has evolved through time and every year the organisation adds new products to its range. In 2020 Hamdard introduced three new products. Doodh Rooh Afza: A punch of nutrition; Hamdard Honey: 100 per cent natural product and Sualin Lozenges - herbal relief for throat pain, inflammation and cough.


Pakistan laboratories operations

The central structure of Hamdard Laboratories is based in Pakistan's industrial hub and the port city of Karachi. It comprises the headquarters and two manufacturing units, including a new large unit -Hamdard Industrial Complex (HIC) at the newly named Hakim Mohammed Said Road. Besides Karachi, two other Hamdard manufacturing units are working in Lahore and Peshawar. Apart from the Karachi headquarters, there are zonal offices in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Peshawar. Hamdard produces over 400 herbal products and medicines and their strength lies in their quality.


 

R&D initiatives

Hamdard Pakistan strongly values the significance of research and development in the field of traditional medicine. Said revitalised the field by having the World Health Organization (WHO) recognise the effectiveness of herbal medicines. He continued to research various herbs and their compositions throughout his life. His legacy continues after his martyrdom and Hamdard remains steadfast in playing a defining role in research and development. Hamdard Pakistan manages a research department, which is operated by a team of professional researchers and hakims.

 

Countrywide network of herbal clinics

Hamdard Pakistan efficiently manages a comprehensive network of free Hamdard herbal clinics across the country. Recently Hamdard initiated a drive to digitalise all herbal clinics and the first-ever digital herbal clinic has started its operations in Karachi. Moreover, Hamdard offers first of its kind free mobile dispensaries to provide health facilities at patients' doorsteps and has set up various hospitals of both eastern and western systems of medicine all over the country.

 

Women empowerment

For Hamdard the terms of 'women empowerment' and 'gender equality' are not new because behind Hamdard's stellar success is the struggle and determination of empowered women. Today, Hamdard is among the few companies where women are given equal opportunities to assume leadership roles. Many women lead their own respective departments at Hamdard.

 

CSR initiatives

Said, in addition to being a physician par excellence, was also a philanthropist, an educationist and a visionary reformer who took it upon himself to develop the health and education sectors of Pakistan. Hamdard Pakistan is now not only the leading manufacturer of herbal products and medicines but also plays an important role in the development and promotion of general health, education and social welfare.

Hamdard Pakistan also operates schools, colleges and the largest private sector university in the country Hamdard University (HU), built-in Madinat al-Hikmah (City of Education, Science and Culture) one of the most iconic accomplishments of its founder Shaheed Hakim Mohammed Said. Hamdard Pakistan strongly believes in serving the people.

Hamdard Foundation Pakistan (HFP): Hamdard Foundation Pakistan was established by Said to control and regulate the funds being handed over to it by Hamdard Laboratories. These are used for the promotion of health, education and social uplift in line with his vision and mission - service to the nation and humanity. He was martyred on October 17, 1998, at the doorstep of his Karachi clinic-the very same from where he started his journey of building 'Hamdard Pakistan'. We are told by the Qur'an to not speak of a Shaheed as dead. Hence, martyred, he is immortal. And his legacy of service goes on, with Allah's help, under the guidance of his daughter, Sadia Rashid, President, Hamdard Group, Pakistan.

 

Quality policy statement

Hamdard Laboratories Pakistan ensures the quality and standard of its products adhering to the international standards and laws, prescribed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and WHO. All of Hamdard's products are duly registered with authorities such as the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP). Hamdard follows zero-tolerance towards quality compromise.  To maintain quality and standard, the organisation takes the following measures:

Procurement of the best quality of raw material.

Following good manufacturing practices.

Conducting regular checks on raw material: in-process/intermediate material and finished products to maintain quality control Giving importance to the training of all personnel/employees, involved in production processes, under the policy of quality control (TQC).

 

Rooh Afza

A drink for all seasons, Rooh Afza is the scarlet-hued syrup served all over the world. It is the star product of Hamdard Pakistan. It is the foremost national brand, having the major share in local markets. At the international level too, it enjoys a high reputation because of its quality, taste and unique blend of traditional flavours and aromas.

Certificates, License and Awards

Having Halal ingredients, Rooh Afza is certified by a committee of food experts and the most authentic religious scholars or 'ulema' of the country. It enjoys certifications of ISO 9001: 2008 and ISO 22000: 2005. It has been winning awards aplenty and regularly, including FPCCI Award, Brands Icon of Pakistan Award, Brands of the Year Award, and Consumer's Choice Award. US food magazine 'Saveur' in its publication of Feb 2007 - issue 99, placed Rooh Afza at the 10th position in the world's 100 most popular brands' list. Apart from Rooh Afza, Hamdard's Gripe Water has also been a recipient of many prestigious awards.


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