The ICCBS has, however, informed the provincial health department about the facility’s completion. Currently, Sindh has to send samples for DNA and other related tests to the Punjab Forensic Science Agency’s labs. This causes delay in crime and other kinds of investigations.
DNA test helps in crime investigations and detection. It also helps in establishing identity of people. The lab in Karachi has been set up in line with international standards. The DNAs of the whole technical staff and scientific personnel have been preserved to eliminate the chances of errors. The facility can carry out DNA profiling of around 60 samples simultaneously.
A DNA test can be conducted on samples of human body parts collected from a crime scene. This can include human tissues, hair, skin, nails and blood, etc. The lab will help the police and other law-enforcement agencies to carry out investigations at a fast pace and arrest and get the accused convicted without delay. This will help reduce the crime rate and make the social environment peaceful and conducive to progress and development.
The Sindh government has allocated Rs260 million for the setting up of the lab. Of this, Rs220 million had been released in January this year. The government is yet to release the remaining Rs40 million. Given the depreciation of the rupee, this amount would be inadequate for the project which is to be fully completed in three years. We appreciate the Sindh government for contributing to the establishment of the much-needed lab. We hope that the project does not fall prey to red tape as official schemes are usually prone to.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 4th, 2019.
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