Pakistan’s first forensic odontology association opens doors to dentists and researchers

LAHORE: Pakistan has taken a significant step toward strengthening forensic dentistry and medicolegal investigation with the formal registration of the Pakistan Association of Forensic Odontology (PAFO), a newly established national body dedicated to advancing forensic odontology across the country. The association has officially opened registrations for dental professionals, forensic experts, researchers, academics, and students, marking what experts describe as a major development in formalizing forensic dentistry as an institutional component of Pakistan’s justice and healthcare systems. Official membership registration has now been opened online through the association’s digital registration portal. ↓PAFO Membership Registration Form According to the association, PAFO aims to standardize forensic dental practices, strengthen the admissibility of dental evidence in courts, and improve collaboration between dentists, forensic experts, law enforcement agencies, forensic departments, judicial institutions, and support continuing professional education. Pakistan’s first qualified forensic odontologist to lead PAFO The newly formed association will be led by Dr Humayoun Temoor Baig as President and Dr Muhammad Afrasiab Khan as General Secretary. Dr Baig is widely regarded as Pakistan’s first qualified forensic odontologist and has played a pioneering role in introducing forensic dentistry into the country’s medicolegal framework. Trained under the INTERPOL Elite Panel and New Scotland Yard, Dr Baig has served within the medico-legal wing of Punjab’s Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department since 2011. He also submitted Pakistan’s first formal forensic odontology curriculum proposal to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC). His forensic work gained national significance during major aviation disasters, including the tragic Pakistan International Airlines Flight 661 crash, where he led dental identification operations and conducted dental autopsies for victims, resulting in multiple positive identifications later confirmed through DNA analysis. He also participated in forensic operations linked to the Pakistan International Airlines Flight 8303 crash in Karachi, alongside anti-terrorism investigations involving facial reconstruction and identification processes. Dr Khan, affiliated with Khyber College of Dentistry, is considered a pioneer of forensic odontology in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and has been actively involved in dental identification services, evidence collection training, and academic development in the field. Association seeks stronger role for dental evidence in justice system PAFO says its strategic mandate revolves around integrating dental science into criminal investigations, disaster victim identification, judicial proceedings, and healthcare accountability systems. The association plans to work on national forensic protocols, expert testimony standards, evidence chain-of-custody procedures, and training workshops involving police departments, forensic agencies, and healthcare professionals. The organization also intends to advocate for the inclusion of forensic odontology within mainstream dental education and professional regulation in collaboration with the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council. Speaking to Dental News, Dr Humayoun Baig said that following PAFO’s formal inauguration, the association also plans to extend professional forensic support in medical and dental negligence investigations and assist healthcare regulatory bodies in evaluating medicolegal complaints and evidence-based inquiries. Experts say forensic odontology can play a critical role in victim identification during disasters, age estimation, criminal investigations, abuse documentation, and court proceedings — areas where Pakistan still faces major institutional gaps. Multiple membership categories announced PAFO has introduced four categories of membership, including Consultant Forensic Odontologist, Full Member, Associate Member, and Junior Associate. The Consultant and Full Member categories are reserved for qualified dental professionals with recognized postgraduate forensic odontology training, while Associate Membership is open to professionals contributing to forensic science research and related disciplines. Junior Associate membership has been designed for undergraduate and postgraduate students pursuing dental and forensic sciences. The association says the initiative is intended to build a national network of trained forensic dental professionals capable of supporting Pakistan’s evolving medicolegal and judicial needs. Stay informed, stay ahead pk/08-May-2026/pakistan-launches-pafo-forensic-odontology-association” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>Read full story on Dental News