PESHAWAR: Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province inaugurated its first DNA laboratory at Khyber Medical College (KMC) on Tuesday.
Among the attendees at the ceremony were KP’s leading molecular biologists and the provincial government’s health secretary, Abid Majeed.
“When I joined Khyber Medical College in 2013, we only had a PCR machine, which is just one of the components of a DNA lab,” said KMC Principal Dr. Noorul Iman. “Today, our vision for a proper DNA-testing facility has materialized.”
Talking to Arab News, he said that the DNA lab had state-of-the-art American equipment and had cost Rs45 million ($405,900).
Asked how much the lab would charge for performing a DNA test, he said it would “hopefully be less than the Punjab Forensic Science Agency’s Rs25,000,” but added that no final pricing decision has yet been made.
Iman said the DNA lab should have been finished in 2013, but was delayed due to lack of funds. “However, the recent cases of child abuse in the province and other parts of the country have led to public awareness and probably influenced the provincial authorities’ decision to bankroll the project,” he said.
Jamil Khan, a molecular biologist who will be working at the lab, said he had previously worked at the National Forensic Science Agency, Islamabad and performed DNA tests in the wake of the 2007 Red Mosque operation in the federal capital and after the 2012 Baldia Town factory fire in Karachi.
Police Superintendent Shahzada Kokab Farooq told Arab News that, until now, law enforcement agencies in KP had to send samples to Lahore or Islamabad for DNA testing.
“DNA testing is required to identify individuals in various cases, such as suicide attacks, murders and sexual assaults,” he explained. “Setting up the lab in Peshawar will save time and make it easier for us to investigate important cases.”
Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province opens first DNA laboratory
Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province opens first DNA laboratory
Zimbabwe surprise as T20 World Cup Super Eights begin without Australia
- Pakistan and New Zealand will clash in Colombo on Saturday as the second “Super Eights” phase of the T20 World Cup kicks off
- India carry hopes of millions of cricket-obsessed fans of winning back-to-back T20 World Cups and lifting the trophy on home soil
Kolkata: Pakistan and New Zealand will clash in Colombo on Saturday as the second “Super Eights” phase of the T20 World Cup kicks off without former champions Australia, who shockingly failed to make it out of their group.
Instead, surprise packages Zimbabwe, who did not even qualify in 2024, topped Group B after a stunning unbeaten campaign where they not only beat Australia but also co-hosts Sri Lanka.
An injury-depleted Australia endured a chaotic campaign and failed to make the second phase of the T20 World Cup for the first time since 2009.
Australia’s acerbic media did not hold back in their criticism, citing selection “stuff-ups” and “shambolic” preparations, including a 3-0 pre-tournament series loss in Pakistan, for the embarrassment.
Australia coach Andrew McDonald admitted his players were “devastated” but any inquest into the failure would only begin “when we exit the shores here.”
India, the world number one-ranked T20 side, are hot favorites to retain their crown on home soil.
However, in the second round they face a tough rematch of the 2024 final against an in-form South Africa in Ahmedabad at a packed 130,000-capacity Narendra Modi stadium on Sunday.
Both teams came through the first round phase with four wins from four.
India are on a 12-match unbeaten run at the T20 World Cup, stretching back to their defeat in the semifinal against eventual winners England in 2022.
No team has won back-to-back T20 World Cups or lifted the trophy on home soil, and India have the hopes of hundreds of million of cricket-obsessed fans on their shoulders.
But India have not been consistent and have a problem at the top of the order with their number one-ranked batter Abhishek Sharma recording three consecutive ducks.
Their batting has looked shaky and India were 77-6 against the United States before coming through to win.
Also in Super Eights Group 1 are Zimbabwe and the West Indies, who meet in Mumbai on Monday, with all that group’s games being hosted in India.
ENGLAND YET TO FIRE
The West Indies toppled England convincingly in the group phase and the two-time champions have all-round strength in depth.
They won the T20 World Cup the last time it was hosted in India, in 2016, and have started in clinical fashion, winning all four group games.
They will be extremely wary of Zimbabwe, whose colorful band of traveling supporters have had plenty to cheer so far. Even a washout against Ireland could not dampen their spirits.
In Sri Lanka, Group 2 pits the co-hosts against England, Pakistan and New Zealand.
The top two from each group will advance to the semifinals.
Pakistan were the last team to secure their berth. They did so by beating Namibia by 102 runs, with captain Salman Agha calling it a “complete performance” as they bounced back from a group defeat to bitter rivals India.
Another pre-tournament fancy, England stumbled through their group matches in Mumbai and Kolkata, losing to the only Test-playing side they faced, the West Indies.
Harry Brook’s side were unconvincing in wins against minnows Nepal, Scotland and finally Italy, who were making their World Cup debut.
But they return to a happy hunting ground in Kandy to face Sri Lanka on Sunday at a venue where England swept a T20 series 3-0 this month, with Sam Curran taking a hat-trick along the way.
Their top order needs to find form, with explosive openers Jos Buttler and Phil Salt yet to make a telling score and Brook failing to fire.
Sri Lanka have also been hot and cold.
Pathum Nissanka scored a superb century on Monday to all but end Australia’s tournament.
But they lost to Zimbabwe in their final group game, although Nissanka was in the runs again with 62.
