Shehbaz Sharif visits Punjab Forensic Science Agency

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif today visited Punjab Forensic Science Agency and presided over a high level meeting to review its performance.

The Chief Minister also inspected the automatic modern system of database for identification of weapons and appreciated Director General Forensic Science Agency and his team for introducing this new system. He also visited the centers for the training of officers and staff of other institutions and expressed his satisfaction over the training facilities. Shahbaz Sharif also inspected the training center of crime scene set up in the lab.

Later, presiding over a high level meeting at Punjab Forensic Science Agency, the Chief Minister said that the biggest and the most modern forensic science lab of South Asia has been set up in Punjab, which meets international standards.

He said that samples of cases are sent from foreign countries to this lab for verification and punishment is also awarded to culprits on its report which is a proof of splendid performance of this lab. He said that an automatic and modern database system for identification of weapons has recently been introduced in Punjab Forensic Science Agency.

Shahbaz Sharif directed that immediate measures should be taken for transferring the record of weapons to the modern database system. He also gave approval for setting up a modern system for database of fingerprints in the lab. He said that satellite centers of forensic science lab will be set up in all divisions of Punjab which will help in collection of evidence of crime at the local level.

The Chief Minister said that project of satellite centers is of vital importance in the provision of justice and will help in improvement of the standard of evidence. He directed that satellite centers at divisional level should be set up speedily and this process should be completed by March.

The meeting decided that in the second phase, satellite centers will be established in 36 districts of the province.

Shahbaz Sharif directed authorities concerned to take immediate measures for setting up satellite centers of forensic science lab at district level. He directed that special attention should be paid to training of officers and officials of prosecution and police for the improvement of criminal justice system and a separate lab will be set up at Forensic Science Agency so that modern training could be imparted to maximum officials.

He said that steps are necessary for harmonizing medical legal system with the demands of modern age and recommendations should be presented after reviewing all necessary issues in this regard. He said that forensic lab is of vital importance in the investigation of cases and Punjab Forensic Science Agency is rendering commendable services in verification of the evidence of crime.

He said that Punjab government has set up a state-of-the-art forensic lab of Asia at a cost of billions of rupees. He said that the fact that countries like America, Britain, Norway are others sending samples for investigation of cases to this lab reflect its efficiency and performance.

The Chief Minister said that he was pleased to see the work being carried out in a professional manner in the agency. He said that the performance of Forensic Science Agency is appreciated not only in Pakistan but also abroad.

The Chief Minister expressed satisfaction over the efficiency of Punjab Forensic Science Agency and appreciated DG Punjab Forensic Science Agency and his team. DG Punjab Forensic Science Agency Dr. Ashraf Tahir gave a detailed briefing on the performance of the institution.

Special Assistant Rana Maqbool Ahmed, Chief Secretary Khizar Hayat Gondal, IG Police, Advocate General Punjab, Secretary Home, Secretary Law and concerned officers were present on the occasion.