The objectives of National Anti-Narcotics Policy 2019 cannot be achieved until the government provides adequate financial resources and manpower to Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF).
"National Anti-Narcotics Policy 2019, which was framed to protect the people of Pakistan from illicit drugs and their negative consequences, would bear no fruit if required financial resources are not provided to the department concerned," Secretary Ministry of Narcotics Control Arif Nawaz Khan said this while briefing the committee that recently approved the policy.
He said, "We are continuously demanding increase in financial resources and manpower during different meetings but so far we received no positive signal in this regard. The total strength of ANF is 2,800 for the whole country," he said, adding that out of the total force, the ANF has deployed its personnel at 13 airports, 17 dry ports, six sea ports and six crossing points.
Khan said that his ministry has been demanding to increase the total strength of ANF from 2,800 to 10,000. The previous government of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had approved phase-wise increase in the ANF manpower but the Ministry of Finance has been creating different hurdles in this regard, he added. He requested the committee to summon the representatives of the Ministry of Finance to brief the body as to why it has not so far allowed increase in the ANF manpower, approved by the previous government.
The meeting which was presided over by Senator Sardar Muhammad Shafiq Tareen observed that the committee will make efforts to increase budget and manpower of the ANF. The committee summoned the Ministry of Finance to explain as to why it has not so far allowed increase in the ANF manpower.
The secretary said that Pakistan has so far not appointed drug liaison officers (DLOs) abroad while currently DLOs of 35 countries are posted in their embassies in Pakistan.
An official of the ANF informed the meeting that the ANF is maintaining a fleet of three Mi-17 helicopters donated by the United Kingdom in 2006. These helicopters had been used for drug interdiction operations in Balochistan; however, the helicopters have completed their life and have been grounded due to non-availability of funds.
He said that the ANF has been continuously requesting for provision of additional funds/supplementary grants during the previous committee meetings held during financial years 2015-16, 2016-2017 and 2017-18 for the repair and overhauling of helicopters.
About National Anti-Narcotics Policy 2019, he said that under the new policy a National Anti-Narcotics Council (NANC) headed by the Prime Minister has been set up. The council consists of chief ministers of all provinces, federal minister for narcotics control, federal minister for interior, federal minister for national health services and federal minister for inter-provincial coordination, he said, adding that the forum will ensure improved coordination resulting in an integrated strategy towards narcotics control on national level.
He said that it has been proposed that the NANC will meet once a year, adding that the secretary Ministry of Narcotics Control will act as the secretary of the council. Khan said that the National Anti-Narcotics Policy 2019 has three pillars including drug supply reduction, international cooperation and drug demand reduction. Under the new policy, the establishment of forensic/ drug testing facilities in all provinces has been proposed.
Senators including Saleem Zia, Abdul Qayyum, Kamran Michael, John Kenneth Williams and Haji Momin Khan Afridi, and the officials of the Ministry of Narcotics Control attended the meeting.
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