Standing committee on narcotics control lauded the efforts of Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) in controlling the menace of narcotics from the country through enforcement, community participation and international co-operation.
In a meeting attended by Nisar Ahmed MNA and secretary ministry of narcotics, DG anti narcotics force briefed the committee about the organisational structure.
The secretary informed that ministry was solely responsible for formulation of narcotics policy control in conformity with national objectives, laws and international conventions and protocols.
The legislation covering all aspects of narcotics and psychotropic substances also come under the purview of ministry of narcotics, he added.
Later director general ANF highlighted the role of anti narcotics force in curbing and restricting cultivation of poppy, production and trade of drugs.
He informed the committee that paucity of funds was impeding their efforts to eradicate the menace. However economic and logistical support being extended by foreign governments would further improve the working of the force.
He apprised the committee that ANF had also planned a mass awareness campaign throughout Pakistan with special focus on drug abuse and its prevention. He said that by offering financial assistance to farmers, land under massive poppy cultivation had been diverted to other crops, which was a big achievement.
Standing committee lauded the efforts of ministry and ANF and asked the DG ANF to associate local government representatives in drug awareness campaigns.
Dr Nisar Ahmed directed the ministry of narcotics control to intensify the pace of development work being carried out in the poppy growing areas and new schemes should be initiated in consultation with the MNAs of the area.
The meeting was also attended by Minister of Narcotic Control Ghaus Bukhsh Meher, MNA Rai Muhammad Aslam Kharal, Shiekh Waqas Akram, Khawaja Shiraz Mehmood, and Liaqat Ali Marri.