KARACHI:A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for strengthening of forensic DNA and serology facility in Sindh was signed between the Department of Health, Government of Sindh, and International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi (UoK) on Monday.
According to MoU, the provincial government will provide Rs.260 millions to ICCBS for strengthening of forensic DNA and serology facility at the Jamil-ur-Rehman Center for Genome Research, which works as a part of Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD).
The MoU was signed in the supervision of Sindh Provincial Minister for Health and Population Welfare Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho in the special ceremony, held at the office of the provincial health minister. It is pertinent to mention here that Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho is taking keen interest in the establishment of the state-of-the-art DNA research laboratory in Sindh.
Additional Chief Secretary Health Dr Mohammad Usman Chachar and Director ICCBS-UoK Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary signed the agreement in the ceremony. Among others who attended the ceremony were Director Development and Evaluation Dabeer A. Khan, Abdul Waheed Shaikh, Serologist and Chemical Examiner and Prof. Dr. Farzana Shaheen, Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmad Khan, Dr. Shakil Ahmed and Dr. Hina Siddiqui from ICCBS.
Speaking on the occasion, the health minister congratulated both the parties over the signing of the historic agreement that would lead a setup of the much needed high-tech DNA laboratory in the province. She said that the provincial health department was focusing on the frontiers of technology to facilitate the criminal and civil justice system.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Iqbal Choudhary also congratulated the provincial minster, Additional Chief Secretary Health and other officials for making great efforts in setting up of modern laboratory that would be used as support to modernize justice system, in Sindh.
According to MoU, the Sindh government will designate the ICCBS as focal center for Forensic DNA and serology analysis and training in forensic serology and DNA analysis, and notify the staff trained from the ICCBS as a forensic analyst or expert. All the analysts will take the proficiency test annually as per standards and on successfully passing the test will be allowed to analyse case work.