2017

The Code of Criminal Procedure (Sindh Amendment) Act of 2017 has made DNA testing in rape cases mandatory. The DNA testing must be conducted in through laboratories recognized by the Government of Sindh, and such samples must be collected from the victim within 72 hours of the incident and preserved in confidentiality. This Amendment was made in, in part, to address the fact that low conviction rates in rape cases are frequently due to faulty investigations and lack of DNA evidence. In 2018, the Health Department signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Karachi University regarding the establishment of a DNA laboratory, which is now in the final stages of receiving certain specialized equipment, and will soon be ready to receive DNA samples for analysis and testing.