KARACHI: A forensic DNA and serology laboratory being established at a research facility of Karachi University (KU), recently provided an amount of Rs220m by the provincial government, requires additional funding for smooth execution of the project.

This information was shared with a high-level delegation led by the Supreme Court’s monitoring judge for antiterrorism courts across the country, Justice Faisal Arab, who visited the under-construction laboratory on Saturday.

The laboratory is being built at KU’s Jamil-ur-Rahman Centre for Genome Research, part of Dr Panjwani Centre for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research.

Justice Arab was accompanied by a member of the Sindh High Court’s inspection team, A. Razzaq, administrative judge for the antiterrorism courts for Sindh Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto, additional chief secretary for health Dr Muhammad Usman Chachar and other officials.

The delegation inspected the on-going development work at the forensic laboratory and expressed satisfaction over its pace.

In November 1ast year, the Sindh government was given a two-week deadline by the Supreme Court to set up the facility

Earlier, Justice Arab held a meeting with Prof Atta-ur-Rahman, ICCBS patron-in-chief and former federal minister for science and technology.

During the meeting, Prof Atta-ur-Rahman presented a brief history of the ICCBS followed by a detailed presentation by Dr Ishtiaq Ahmad on the genome research centre and laboratory’s progress.

The research facility established in 2014 with the help of Prof Atta-ur-Rahman’s donation, he said, was the first genomics facility in the country, which was now open to researchers across Pakistan.

“The facility helped present complete genome sequencing of major ethnic groups of Pakistan. Its researchers also assessed genetic risk factors for cardiovascular disorders and analysed mutation load of early age blood disorders in Pakistani population. Research on genomics of mango associated bacteria from southern Pakistan was also conducted at the centre,” he said while highlighting its major works.

On forensic laboratory’s development, he informed officials in attendance that an amount of Rs220m had been transferred by the provincial government to the ICCBS. An additional 40 per cent funds, however, would be required for smooth execution of the project.

“A request in this regard has been sent to the health department,” Dr Ahmed said, explaining that the gap in funds occurred because of the devaluation of the rupee.

Speaking about equipment purchase, he said that a detailed technical evaluation report was being compiled after which a technical committee would decide about the award of purchase orders in accordance with the Sindh Public Procurement Regulatory Authority rules.

The meeting was also attended by DIG-South Sharjeel Khalid, DC-East Ahmed Ali Siddiqui, director development and evaluation Dabeer A. Khan and Dr Noman Rasool.

There is no modern forensic laboratory in Sindh to assist the criminal justice system. Samples are currently sent to a forensic laboratory in Punjab to help law enforcement agencies in investigation.

Taking notice of this situation, the Supreme Court had ordered the government to establish a forensic laboratory in Karachi a year ago. In November 1ast year, the government was given a two-week deadline to set up the facility.

A forensic laboratory, government officials contend, is functioning at the Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro. However, they admit that it’s not equipped with modern tools.

In October last year, the adviser to the Sindh chief minister on information and law, Barrister Murtaza Wahab, had announced that a forensic laboratory had been demarcated in District Malir for which required funds had been allocated.

Published in Dawn, January 6th, 2019