UAF NEWS

Punjab Forensic Science Agency Lahore Director General Dr M Ashraf Tahir on Wednesday said: the agency processes 1.5 million evidences a year and it has solved 6 lakh cases so far since its inception. He said that it is the second largest and reliable laboratory in the world collecting forensic evidence.

He was addressing at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad at a seminar chaired by UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Ashraf at Syndicate Room. He said the PFSA laboratory was covering 170,000 square feet area, employs approximately 1000 employees (scientific & non-scientific staff). He said that they were enjoying world acclaimed fame. They have received physical evidence for testing in criminal cases also from different countries including Scotland Yard, United States of America, United Kingdom, Germany, Norway, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and others. He said that they were having the different departments including Audio Video Analysis; Computer Forensic; Crime & Death Scene Investigation; DNA & Serology; Firearm & Toolmarks Identification; Forensic Photography; Latent Finger Prints; Narcotics; Pathology; Polygraph; Questioned Documents; Toxicology; and Trace Chemistry. He said that they challenge anyone anytime to go and re-test from the US forensic lab or anywhere, but our test results will remain the same. The USA has a DNA database of 20 million criminals, he said, adding that they store DNA databases once crime is committed either it is heinous or ordinary. He said it was the nature of criminals to repeat their crimes after every three year and DNA helped law enforcement agencies to find the criminals. He said that Zainab rape-murder case was solved by PFSA, Chunian case in which four children were sexually abused and killed, identification of burnt bodies in oil tanker explosion case in Ahmedpur Sharqia, were solved by PFSA through DNA evidences, audio-video analysis, latent finger prints, chemical examination matters and other forensic advanced techniques. Dr Muhammad Ashraf said that the forensic sciences had gained immense importance therefore it is responsibilities of the universities to launch forensic science degree programs. He lauded the measurers being taken on the part of PFSA to trace the criminals. He added that the UAF was also working on DNA in different departments including Bio Technology; Bio Chemistry; Microbiology etc. He said that the Punjab Healthcare Commission had approved Covid PCR Testing Lab established at the UAF to perform the corona tests. He said that the UAF was also devising Pakistan Agri-Vision 2020- 2047 meant to ensure modern trends in the agricultural sector at par with international standards with the nexus of food, water, energy and environment.