Sindh government approves Rs 260 million for setting up DNA Laboratory at KU

Sindh Government has approved Rs.260 millions for a fully equipped DNA Laboratory at University of Karachi, which would be functional shortly, Supreme Court was informed on Saturday. At Karachi Registry of SC, Justice Faisal Arab chaired a high level meeting, which was attended by Secretary Home Sindh, provincial Prosecutor General and other high officials.
Sindh Government announced a report in the meeting regarding the establishment of DNA facilities in the province. According to the report, pragmatic steps have been initiated for fully equipped DNA lab with the collaboration of International Center for Chemical & Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi.
Sindh Government approved Rs.260 millions for this facility, of which Rs.220 millions have been released. It referred to orders of apex court, which sought the process of establishment of DNA test laboratory to be pursued at a fast pace.
Provincial government in this report claimed that funds have been placed at the disposal of Health Department Sindh for its transfer to ICCBS for procurement of all required equipments and disclosed that ICCBS at University of Karachi has already been notified government laboratory for Forensic DNA, Serology, food and biological sample test as stop-gap arrangement.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (Training) is the project director of Forensic Science Laboratory. Report revealed that Sindh Health Department had already declared Toxicology/Molecular Biology Lab. Department of Forensic Medicine, Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences Jamshoro as certified government laboratory for DNA test. The primary area of operation of this laboratory is Sindh province as well as it covers Balochistan.
At present, 66 percent of cases are received from Karachi division and rest belonging to the rest of Sindh and Balochistan. The DNA facility at Jamshoro provided details of 758 DNA cases, which referred to it including Saffora Bus attack 2005, serial child rapist arrested in 2008 and Sehwan bomb paternity testing for human identification.
Meanwhile, Prosecutor General Sindh told the meeting that training of investigation officers and prosecutors is underway in the light of orders of apex court. More than sixty personnel have been trained whereas third batch is going through training.
Justice Faisal Arab showed annoyance over the absence of IG Sindh when the issue of construction of Mall Khanas in Sindh came under discussion. Justice Faisal Arab directed IG Sindh to appear in the next meeting. Meeting was informed that Mall Khanas will be constructed at divisional level in the first phase. In the second phase, Mall Khanas will be constructed at the district level. Prosecutor General will supervise the construction of Mall Khanas in the province.