A Wolbachia based Dengue Control Laboratory was established here at Government College University, Lahore with a grant of Rs 14.18 million by the Higher Education Commission. VC Professor Dr Hassan Amir Shah along with the senior faculty members inaugurated the laboratory constructed for research project entitled "Development of Wolbachia based dengue control strategy to suppress and replace local mosquito vectors from Pakistan" to Professor Dr Nusrat Jahan.
Speaking on the occasion Dr Jahan said that research work in this project required advanced equipment such as qPCR and Microinjection System to induce Wolbachia in Aedes aegypti vector, the major vector of dengue in Pakistan. The purchase of Microinjection System is under progress, while qPCR has already been purchased she added.
Dr Jahan explained that Wolbachia based vector control strategy would be cost effective, sustainable and environmental friendly and it would prevent tremendous cost of insecticides.