DNA database planned to modernise criminal justice

The Punjab government has approved the creation of Pakistan's first provincial-level DNA database, aiming to revolutionize criminal investigations through advanced forensic science.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Home Department, will establish a Central DNA Database to systematically collect, catalog, and analyze genetic profiles from key groups - including inmates across Punjab's prisons, habitual offenders, individuals accused of serious crimes, unidentified human remains, and volunteers from families of missing persons.

Home Secretary Noorul Amin Mengal described the project as a vital component of the government's broader "Smart Policing" reforms. "This database will serve as a force multiplier for law enforcement agencies," he said. "By combining cutting-edge forensic science with traditional policing methods, we are building a modern, efficient criminal justice system."

The Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA), located at Thokar Niaz Beg, will serve as the central repository for the database and will coordinate sample collection across all 36 districts of the province. Officials estimate the database could eventually hold over 500,000 genetic profiles.

A high-powered working group, including Pakistan's top forensic and biomedical experts, has been formed to finalise the operational framework within seven days. The committee is led by Dr Muhammad Amjad, Director General of PFSA, and includes senior police and scientific officials.

The database will be implemented in three phases: prisoner profiling from 42 jails, re-examination of cold cases, and real-time DNA matching during active investigations.

Multiple safeguards will be put in place, including chain of custody protocols, encrypted data storage, strict access controls, and judicial oversight, ensuring the system adheres to international standards.

Legal experts have hailed the project as transformative, noting it could not only solve crimes but also assist in tracing missing persons.