LAHORE, Oct 30: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that Punjab Forensic Science Agency would be a milestone in provision of speedy justice to the masses and it would also help in curbing crimes by investigating cases on scientific lines not only in the Punjab province but in entire Pakistan.
According to a handout, the chief minister was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of Punjab Forensic Science Agency`s laboratory here on Sunday. CM`s senior adviser Sirdar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa and other elected representatives, home secretary, inspector-general of police (IGP) and senior officials were present.
Mr Sharif said that setting up of the agency was a unique initiative. Its staffers were imparted training abroad and latest equipment was imported for its laboratory.
He said that he had decided to launch this project in 1998 and consultation was also made with the United Kingdom in this regard but a dictator toppled the government in 1999 due to which this project could not be executed.
He said that he again started work on this project in 2009 and services of Dr. Tahir Ashraf were hired to run this project after completion within a record period of two years.
He said that provision of justice to the masses without any discrimination was imperative for any state and that his government was fully cognizant of its duty and establishment of the agency was an important step towards performing this duty.
He said that the gigantic project which cost Rs3 billion would only be useful when investigation was carried out on merit, crime scene was protected and all departments, including prosecution, discharged their duties efficiently and diligently.
He said that his government would not hesitate in spending another Rs3 billion to provide justice to the people. He said that people had great expectations from the agency, its administration and scientists. He hoped that they would come up to the expectations of the masses and would discharge their duties with devotion.
Saying that there was no shortage of resources in the country, he stressed the need of observing austerity and developing indigenous resources.
He praised the efforts made by chief secretary Nasir Mehmood Khosa, home secretary Shahid Khan, IGP Javaid Iqbal, former IGP Shaukat Javaid, additional chief secretary Nadeem Hassan Asif, finance secretary Tariq Bajwa, agency director-general (DG) Dr. Tahir Ashraf, project director Nayyer Mehmood and elected representatives in completion of the project. He also appreciated the role of his cabinet members in this regard.
DG Dr Tahir Ashraf said that 32 scientists had been provided training abroad. He said that provision of speedy justice to the people was a dream of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif which had been materialised in the shape of this project.
He said that a Forensic Training Institute had also been set up in agency`s laboratory wherein training of international standard would be provided to staffers and other candidates.
He said that this agency would play its effective role in strengthening police and other law-enforcement agencies.
Earlier, the chief minister inaugurated the agency`s laboratory and visited its various sections.
(Daily Dawn)
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