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Country’s first DNA testing lab
Pakistan opened the doors to its first DNA testing laboratory in Islamabad last week. The centre has been established with technical assistance from China.
At the inauguration ceremony, Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao said the government was committed to making DNA technology a regular part of police investigations. This would improve the ability of the criminal justice system to track down criminals.
The DNA laboratory has been set up by the National Police Bureau under its National Forensic Science Programme at a cost of Rs8 million. It has facilities for testing cases related to microbiology, ballistics and explosives, chemical examination and toxicology.
“The establishment of the DNA lab is a major step in the ongoing initiative of the interior ministry to better equip the police and law enforcement agencies in their fight against crime, terrorism and public disorder,” the minister said.
“DNA technology is potentially the most remarkable crime-fighting tool of the 21st century.” In recent years, scientific advances had served to stimulate greater public awareness for the use of DNA evidence in civil and criminal proceedings, he added.
At the opening ceremony of the plant, he said it had the capacity to produce 250 tons of organic fertiliser daily from 1,000 tons of garbage to be supplied by the solid waste management wing of the City District Government Lahore (CDGL).
The annual production capacity of the plant, completed in nine months, was estimated at 90,000 tons. The plant has been on trial run for the past three months.
He said the plant had been built on 300 kanals of land by Lahore Compost on built-operate-transfer basis. The company would pay 10 per cent of the profits to the CDGL for provision of social services to the people. It will transfer the plant’s ownership to the district government after 25 years.
Lahore’s nazim added that the CDGL had started work on the plant project after successes in the experiment of lifting garbage with private sector cooperation. This had resulted in considerable savings.
According to zone-wise dropping of water level, he added, Sargodha witnessed a drop of 5.98 inches, Faisalabad 14.2, Lahore 2.5, Multan 11.15, Bahawalpur 10.65, Dera Ghazi Khan 6 inches and Thal region 5.67 inches. During the last few years, underground water had become increasingly unfit for agriculture purposes, added the minister.
Addressing a press conference with a well-known medical nuclear scientist, Prof Ludwig Feinendegen, at the conclusion of their week-long visit to Pakistan recently, Prof Townes emphasized the value of education for success in science.
“Science teaches how things worked and how human life could be improved. Your smart scientists must educate the young people in science and technology, but also improve salaries of teachers. Students learning science subjects must be encouraged to establish contacts in different countries, and travel for improving their research abilities,” he remarked.
He added that Pakistan’s political leadership understood these necessities and was well involved in establishing new universities and contacts with foreign centres of excellence.
Asked whether the 9/11 incident had closed the door of scientific knowledge on Asian countries, Prof Townes said the US was in a state of shock, but it should now understand the requirements of modern countries.
“We are taking steps for establishing a coordinated and best possible linkage between civic organisations and people through the use of technology,” he said while addressing a ceremony held at the Civic Centre. On the occasion computers were handed over to 90 UCs.
Mr Kamal said speedy communications would provide citizens access to information about all civic activities. — Agencies
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