Kathmandu: Member of the House of Representatives and founder of the National Innovation Center, Mahabir Pun, has said that establishing forensic laboratories in every province would place a heavy financial burden on Nepal, arguing that the country lacks the resources to build and operate multiple high-tech facilities.

Speaking during discussions on a bill at the Education, Health and Information Technology Committee of the federal parliament on Thursday, Pun responded to suggestions from lawmakers who advocated for setting up forensic laboratories across all provinces.

Pun explained that forensic laboratories require highly sophisticated equipment and technology, making them extremely expensive to establish and maintain. He also stressed that obtaining international ISO accreditation is both costly and technically demanding, requiring laboratories to meet strict standards and possess advanced equipment.

According to him, reports produced by laboratories without internationally recognized accreditation often lack credibility abroad, making accreditation essential for forensic work with international relevance.

Instead of establishing multiple laboratories, Pun proposed that Nepal focus on building a single modern, fully equipped national forensic laboratory capable of handling most domestic needs. For highly specialized tests that cannot be conducted within the country, he suggested continuing the practice of sending samples to advanced laboratories overseas.

Drawing on past experience, Pun recalled that Nepal had sent samples to foreign laboratories, including those in Hong Kong, for testing during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. He argued that a similar approach would be practical and cost-effective for complex forensic examinations.

“Obtaining ISO accreditation for such laboratories is very expensive, and it cannot be achieved without the necessary equipment,” Pun said during the committee meeting. “We should carry out as much testing as possible within Nepal, and when that is not feasible, send samples abroad. Given the high costs involved, it is not practical to establish many forensic laboratories across the country.”

Pun also urged lawmakers to consider Nepal’s economic capacity when formulating policies, emphasizing that resources should be concentrated on developing a high-quality national facility rather than multiple under-equipped laboratories.