Sindh Chemico Bacteriological Lab to be upgraded in 4 months: Iqbal Choudhary

KARACHI: The basic upgradation work of Chemico Bacteriological Laboratory (CBL), Sindh Health Department will be completed in the next four months through the help of the Hussain Ebrahim Jamal (HEJ) Research Institute of Chemistry University of Karachi.

The HEJ institute, which works under International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi (UoK) was approached by the Sindh Government for basic upgradation of the CBL in the first phase.

After the completion of the laboratory’s upgradation work, the Chemico laboratory would be able to carry out selected forensic chemical tests as per international standards.

As per an agreement, Sindh provincial government has released Rs.80 million, out of the total amount Rs.135 million, to International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi (UoK) for the purchase of basic equipment and hiring and training of staff for the CBL.

Director ICCBS-UoK Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary informed the participants of the meeting held at the H.E.J. research institute.

The meeting, attended by various officials including Dr. Shakil Ahmed and Jawaid Riaz, reviewed the progress work being carried out at the government’s CBL.

Iqbal Choudhary mentioned that the HEJ Institute was carrying out this work as a part of the its national service program on purely voluntarily basis.

Prof. Iqbal Choudhary said that the tender process of instrument procurement has been ended on account for the first phase of the laboratory’s up-gradation work.

The second phase of the work is specifically associated with the site preparation at Chemico Bacteriological Laboratory (CBL), he added.

He reminded the meeting that as per the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed between ICCBS-UoK and Sindh Health Department, a total of Rs.135 million were allocated for strengthening and up-gradation of the chemico bacteriological laboratory by the health department, Government of Sindh.

However, from the allocated amount ICCBS has received Rs.80 million so far. All of these funds will be spent on the basic up-gradation of CBL, he mentioned.

It is pertinent to mention here that Sindh health department and the ICCBS had signed a MoU in the early December of the previous financial year for the much awaited up-gradation of the CBL Karachi.

This MoU was signed in the presence of Sindh Provincial Minister for Health and Population Welfare Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho.

Following the first phase, a manager for the up-gradation project has also been appointed, Prof. Iqbal Choudhary said, adding that after the completion of this project, the Chemico Bacteriological laboratory would be able to carry out basic forensic chemical tests as per international standards.

He said the HEJ Institute has a proven track record of setting up and running the research centers of excellence, adding that international center was using its all strength for strengthening and up-gradation of Chemico Bacteriological Laboratory Karachi.

He said that the HEJ Institute was carrying out this assignment as a national service, while performing this national job as a public research institution was really an honour not only for the ICCBS but also for the University of Karachi.