The Federal Minister for Narcotics Control Ghous Bux Mahar has said that Pakistan will achieve poppy-free country status this year. "We were near to achieving this status last year but due to poppy cultivation in far flung and inaccessible areas of NWFP that goal was not accomplished," the Minister said.
He was talking to UN delegation headed by Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director United Nations which called on him here on Wednesday. The Minister said that due to Pakistan's efforts, the cultivation of poppy has been reduced while it was increased in neighbouring Afghanistan, which has become a threat for the region. At present, Afghanistan is producing 92 percent of world opiates, he said.
He said that Pakistan is interacting with US government at various forums like Paris Pact Initiative, Paris Pact Roundtables, Counter Narcotics Working Group on the cultivation, production and trafficking of Afghan opiates.
He said Pakistan has achieved tremendous success in its fight against narcotics drugs. About 11,050 kilograms of heroin and morphine, 3,592 kilograms of opium and 36,688 kilograms of hashish have so far been seized in 2007 while during 2006, Pakistan had seized more than 35 metric tons of hashish. The Minister said that all heroin-producing factories have been destroyed and no heroin lab presently exists in Pakistan.
To check the heroin trafficking by air, three itemises (Ion Scan Machines) have been installed at Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad airports while six container scanners are also being installed at seaports and border entry-exit points of the country under arrangements of NLC and Pakistan Customs, the Minister said. Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director UN appreciated the efforts of Pakistan to curb drug trafficking from Pakistan's border.
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