The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was informed on Wednesday that the Narcotics Control Division had no proper way to dispose off heroin other than burning it in the open, which law enforcing agencies seize from time to time.
The Narcotics Control Division (NCD) officials, during the appropriation of accounts before the PAC, said that there was a place fixed for the burning of drugs and they did not use any incinerator.
Member PAC Kunwar Khalid Younus said that according to the international standards, heroin must be burnt at a temperature of 2500 degrees Fahrenheit to destroy it completely for which special incinerators are needed.
"If you don't burn the heroin at this temperature, only its upper layer is destroyed while the rest of the drug remains intact," Younus said.
In United States, he added, special incinerators were used to completely destroy heroin.
However, the ministry official admitted that they did not have such incinerators.
"After we have burnt the heroin, the place is guarded for five to seven days and then the burnt out material is buried in the ground," he said.
The Narcotics Control Division Secretary, Ismail Hassan Niazi, said that according to World Drug Report of the UN, Pakistan was the number one in the world in terms of seizure of heroin.
The conviction rate in cases related to heroin trafficking was 87 percent while a record Rs 4939 billion worth of assets of persons involved had been seized, Niazi said.
"This is not a mean achievement," he added.
Niazi said that Pakistan was declared a poppy-free country but its cultivation re-emerged in some parts of tribal areas couple of years ago.
"We have had meetings with the NWFP governor and other officials of the province so that it is completely destroyed and Pakistan again becomes a poppy-free country."
Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri, member PAC, drew the NCD officials attention towards the porous Pack-Afghan border and said efforts should be made to completely stop heroin smuggling through these areas.
"Unfortunately, they have not been able to stop the smuggling. They should have stopped atleast 50 percent of the trade if not 100 percent," Haidri said.
"This brings a bad name to the country," he added.
Niazi said according to the ministry's estimates, there were three million drug addicts in the country and half of them were heroin addicts.
He said special wards for drug addicts had been established in some hospitals in the country.
"Two model treatment and rehabilitation centres are being established in Islamabad and Quetta, which will be replicated in other cities too," he added.
Niazi said comparatively the availability of heroin in Pakistan was easier than alcohol and that is why the number of its addicts is also greater than any other drug.
One of the PAC members suggested that instead of destroying the liquor, which the NCD seizes, it should be exported to help country earn valuable foreign exchange. The secretary however, said the decision has to be taken at a higher level.
"This is a policy decision, which we can't make. But the PAC as a best forum, which can give its recommendation to the government," Niazi said.
Chairman PAC Malik Allah Yar appreciated the NCD for steps taken to curb smuggling of drugs in the country.
"They have done a commendable Job. You don't even care for the pressure, which the highly placed officials sometime put on you," he added.
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