SFDL completes DNA identification of PIA air crash victims

KARACHI: The Sindh Forensic DNA and Serology Laboratory (SFDL) at the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, has completed the DNA identification of the victims of the PIA air crash.

A few cases where relatives have not contacted are pending and will be deciphered depending on the availability of reference samples.

The Director of the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, and COMSTECH Coordinator-General, Prof Dr Iqbal Choudhary, stated, "As many as 69 samples have been received from the families of the victims, and 70 samples of the victims have also been received from Police Department so far."

State-of-the-art machines and expertise were employed to complete this huge work in a record time of 8 days with 100% accuracy, he said, adding that the work included complete profiling over 69 relatives and over 50 bodies.

He said, "It required the matching of each DNA profile of the deceased individual with all 69 references."

Volunteers and scientists worked 24/7 to complete this national assignment, he said and maintained that the Government of Sindh had provided excellent support and coordination in this highly technical work conducted in Pakistan's latest forensic DNA facility.

It is pertinent to mention here that the SFDL is the first of its kind facility in Sindh that specializes in the detection, identification, and analysis of human DNA from evidence samples collected by law enforcement agencies from crime scenes.

The SFDL is set up at the Jamil-ur-Rahman Centre for Genome Research, which works as part of the Dr Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD) at the University of Karachi.

-MN Report