The Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC), operating under the Ministry of Science and Technology, has officially renewed and expanded the accreditation of the Sindh Forensic DNA and Serology Laboratory (SFDL), further cementing its status as a leader in forensic science across the country.
Housed within the Dr Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD) at the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi (UoK), the SFDL is the only forensic laboratory in Pakistan accredited under ISO/IEC 17025:2017 — the international standard for testing and calibration laboratories. The renewal affirms the lab’s compliance with rigorous global standards for quality and reliability.
The achievement was celebrated during an official ceremony chaired by Prof Dr M Raza Shah, Director of ICCBS. Attendees included key officials such as Dr Ishtiaq Ahmad Khan, Project Director and Head of SFDL.
“This milestone reflects our unwavering commitment to scientific integrity, operational excellence, and service to justice,” said Prof Dr Shah. He credited Dr Khan’s leadership for transforming the lab into a national asset, citing its role in more than 8,800 forensic cases that have aided criminal investigations across Pakistan.
The renewed accreditation follows an extensive independent review process, verifying the lab’s advanced infrastructure, highly trained personnel, and robust operational protocols. According to officials, these standards have positioned SFDL as a critical player in both routine casework and high-profile criminal probes.
Beyond casework, the lab has emerged as a training hub for the country’s legal and investigative communities. Judges, police investigators, medico-legal officers, prosecutors, and crime scene analysts regularly undergo training at SFDL, gaining vital skills in evidence handling and forensic techniques.
“The lab’s contributions to disaster response efforts and sensitive investigations have been indispensable,” noted Prof Shah, highlighting SFDL’s growing role in building Pakistan’s forensic capacity.
Congratulatory messages were also extended by Prof Dr Khalid Iraqi, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Karachi, and Prof Dr Atta-ur-Rahman, Professor Emeritus and former Federal Minister for Science and Technology, who praised the SFDL team for achieving this significant national distinction.