Dr Samar Mubarik was chief guest; Seminar focused on training medico-legal experts on medico-legal clues on the crime scenes
LAHORE (Saturday, March 28): 4-day International Symposium on “Future trends in Molecular Biological Research and its Applications in Agriculture and Health” organized by Punjab University National Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), concluded here at the Cetnre on Saturday.
On the concluding day, three main events were conducted.
A second training workshop on “Collection, Preservation and Dispatch of Evidence Material in Sexual Assault Cases” was conducted with an aim to aware the medico-legal persons to the importance of procurement of biological clues from the crime scene and from the body of victim and offender, its packaging and transport to the DNA laboratory. The workshop was specially designed to equip medico-legal doctors with innovative approaches in securing biological clues that can form the basis of DNA evidence.
Eminent Pakistani scientist and Pakistan 's National Engineering & Scientific Commission Chairman Dr Samar Mubarakmand was the chief guest on the occasion . In his address, Dr Samar appreciated the efforts made by Pakistani scientists in the field of molecular biology and genetics.
The workshop was co-chaired by Medico-legal Division Punjab Incharge Captain (Rtd) Surgeon Dr Ghulam Shabbir. He told that about all medico-legal doctors from South Punjab are participating in this workshop.
CEMB Director Dr S Riaz-ud-Din described the importance and basic concepts of DNA and its role in crime investigation.
Dr Tayyab Hussnain introduced the Centre for Applied Molecular Biology (CAMB) forensic services laboratory. He explained the facilities provided by the CAMB forensic services laboratory including quality control and quality assurance programs of the laboratory.
CAMB DNA laboratory Incharge Manzoor Hussain, introduced the audience to modern forensic techniques used in crime investigations. He described the procedure of collection of biological evidence material by medico-legal doctors especially in a sexual assault/rape cases. He also described the methods of collection, preservation and dispatch of different types of biological evidence material for DNA testing.
CEMB Foreign Faculty Dr Sajida Hassan discussed the importance of “Chain of Custody of Evidence Material” to ensure the integrity of collected samples.
CAMB DNA Analyst Muhammad Shaifique presented few cases solved by the DNA technology at CAMB with the help of DNA technology to highlight the role of DNA in crime investigation.
An industrial exhibition and interesting workshop on “Academia-Industry Interaction” was a major event on the last day. The aim of the workshop was to enhance the attraction between educational institutes and industries to fulfill the demands of new technology on commercial scale. Many leading industrialists in the field of agriculture and health participated in the exhibition and workshop and presented their products.
Ministry of Science and technology Federal Secretary Muhammad Kashif Murtaza, was the chief guest of the workshop and exhibition. He also addressed the closing ceremony of the conference. He also distributed the certificates among the participants of symposium and workshops.
