Karachi:Pakistan’s largest Biosafety Level – III (BSL-III) laboratory in an academic institution at the Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD), University of Karachi, has been transformed into a large testing facility to help the nation in the ongoing pandemic of COVID-19. This laboratory is a part of the National Institute of Virology which was established last year with the financial support of the Federal government.
Following the instructions of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, the BSL-III laboratory was converted into a COVID-19 diagnostic center diligently for testing of hundreds of samples, provided by Sindh Health Department, daily.
The Director of the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi and COMSTECH Coordinator General Prof. Dr. Iqbal Choudhary stated this on Thursday, while speaking at a meeting of volunteer’s held at the PCMD’s National Institute of Virology, ICCBS, University of Karachi. He mentioned that this is a unique example of an academic institution promptly aligning to meet the national need. He appreciated support of Sindh Government for the completion of remaining work of the BSL-III.
Prof. Iqbal Choudhary praised the efforts of Chairman National Task Force for COVID-19 Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman who followed through various science and technology initiatives to help the nation out in the massive international health crises.
He said that the diagnostic capacity of Covid-19 infection had immensely been widened in the province just after the BSL-III laboratory begun work at the Dr. Panjwani Center, University of Karachi.”
Prof. Iqbal Choudhary, who is one of the members of National Task Force for COVID-19, thanked to CM Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah and Sindh Provincial Minister for Health and Population Welfare Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho for their kind support and trust shown to Dr. Panjwani Center that comes under the ICCBS.
He pointed out that the ICCBS was a tremendous model of a university based research center which was serving to the national health care system at the time of pandemic.
He said that every citizen were required to take precautionary measures as it was the only weapon to fight against the fatal threat of Covid-19. He said the National Institute of Virology, which works under the Dr. Panjwani Center, was working to produce quality researches and researchers who could play their due role in the areas of research and development in the country.