Forensic science agency expands operation

LAHORE

Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) has expanded its operation in all eight Divisional Headquarters of Punjab with a cost of Rs 266 million and we are planning to establish our evidence collection centres in all 36 districts of Punjab within a year, these views were expressed during an opening session of two-day DNA Strategy Symposium arranged by PFSA in collaboration with the British High Commission at a local hotel on Monday. 

Chief Justice Balochistan High Court Justice Muhammad Noor, Special Assistant to CM, Punjab, Rana Maqbool Ahmed, Secretary, Prosecution, Ali Murtaza, Director General, NAB, Syed Burhan Ali, Prosecutor General, Punjab, Syed Ehtisham Qadir, Additional IG CTD Rai Tahir, representatives of law enforcement agencies along with a large number of local and foreign scientists attended the session. 

Addressing the session, Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court Justice Muhammad Noor said forensic science facilities like Punjab Forensic Science Agency should be established in all provinces of Pakistan. Special Assistant to CM, Punjab, and former IG Rana Maqbool Ahmed said Punjab Forensic Science Agency has achieved great milestones in a short period. 

PFSA is taking revolutionary steps in dispensation of justice to the oppressed, he said and added Punjab Forensic Science Agency was providing guidance to all investigation agency in several cases.

Director General, PFSA, Dr Muhammad Ashraf said i the agency had expanded its operation in all eight Divisional Headquarters of Punjab with a cost of Rs 266 million.

We are planning to establish our evidence collection centres in all 36 districts of Punjab within a year, he said and told the participants that PFSA had trained more than 8 thousand representatives of law enforcement agencies all over Pakistan. Dr Ashraf said PFSA had helped the United States, Norway, United Kingdom, Egypt and many foreign agencies in solving high profile cases. He said Forensic Science Laboratory and a specialised university will be established soon.

He said some legislative amendments were required for completing the databank of DNA samples. Participants appreciated PFSA’s role in not only the conviction of terrorists but also the help of innocent with the use of modern infrastructure and technology.

ACCIDENTS: At least 523 accidents were reported in Provincial Monitoring Cell of Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122) in all 36 districts of Punjab during the last 24 hours in which three lives were lost and 415 serious injured were shifted to different hospitals of relevant districts.