RAWALPINDI: A decade after it was established, the Punjab Forensic Science Authority (PFSA) satellite station has formally started collecting “evidence sample collection” in Rawalpindi.

With an operational forensic lab in the region, the investigation officers will now be able to submit samples of the criminal cases in the collection unit – Monday to Friday from 8am to 2pm – and it will be the responsibility of the administration of the Forensic Science Agency to deliver them to the main laboratory in Lahore.

However, the samples for “sensitive tests will be collected directly” at the main laboratory in Lahore.

Previously, the investigation officers had to go to Lahore and Gujranwala to submit samples, a spokesman for the Regional Police Officer (RPO) said on Monday. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan police and other law enforcement agencies will also be able to benefit from the facility.

With the establishment of the Forensic Science Agency in 2011, regional offices were also set up in major regions, including Rawalpindi, and regular staff were also appointed. In Rawalpindi, however, the staff and experts posted almost ten years ago were only visiting the crime scene with the police.

On receiving the information, the staff was limited to going to the crime scene with the police officers to collect evidence under surveillance and then handing it over to the investigating officer.

It was the responsibility of the investigating officer to go to the headquarters of the Forensic Science Agency in Lahore to submit the evidence. The exercise incurred thousands of rupees in travel expenses as well as wasted time of the police officers. In addition to Lahore, the IOs from Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, and Jhelum districts could also drop off samples at the agency’s Gujranwala office.

Caretaker Minister Dr Jamal Nasir was asked to take notice of this issue as despite having the office and staff in Pindi, the investigating officers had to go to Lahore or Gujranwala to submit evidence samples, putting a massive strain on resources.

Dr Jamal Nasir along with RPO Rawalpindi Syed Khurram Ali and CPO Khalid Hamdani visited the regional office and instructed the RPO Rawalpindi to send recommendations to make the office operational.

Subsequently, it was decided to make the regional office of the Forensic Science Agency in Rawalpindi functional for efficient use of resources.

Meanwhile, the investigation officers of the Rawalpindi Police expressed satisfaction with the operationalisation of the collection unit of the Forensic Science Agency in Rawalpindi. They said earlier they had to go to Lahore to submit evidence samples in any case, which would cost at least Rs10,000 which they had to pay out of their own pocket.

The IO said police officers, to avoid travel difficulties and expenses, would often avoid registration of drug cases because for sample submission they had to go to Gujranwala or Lahore multiple times.

“Since now this facility is also available in Rawalpindi, the operations against drugs and relevant crimes will be accelerated,” the officer added.

Investigating officers said the functioning of the forensic science agency’s evidence collection point in Rawalpindi was a praiseworthy initiative of RPO Syed Khurram Ali, CPO Rawalpindi Khalid Hamdani, and the caretaker health minister.

RPO Syed Khurram Ali said that the functioning of the collection unit will save the time of the investigation officers, which will help improve the investigation system.

The Punjab Forensic Science Agency was established under the vision of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to examine the evidence in a modern way and bring those involved in crime to justice.

Published in Dawn, July 11th, 2023