Pakistan announced a comprehensive master plan to combat the drug menace and control of drug abuse in the country and has allocated Rs 2.832 billion to reduce the drug demand and eradicate the cultivation. This was stated by Niaz Ahmed Siddiqui, Deputy Director General, Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) here on Tuesday while briefing a high level Afghan delegation and UN officials at ANF headquarters. Senior officers of Afghan government and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) visited the ANF headquarter.
The delegation comprised of UNODC officials Consuelo Casarotto, Richard Will, Yusuf Muhammad, Shama Muqbool and Afghan officials including Mirwaiz Yasini, Abdul Khalil Terzay, Muhabollah Luddin and many other senior officials.
The Director General ANF, Major General Nadeem Ahmed welcomed the delegation and informed them about the measures the ANF is holding for eradication of drug addiction in Pakistan.
While briefing the delegation, ANF deputy chief said that out of total allocation of Rs 2.832 billion, Rs 1.072 billion were allocated for drug demand reduction in Pakistan.
He said that government has approved the establishment of two model addiction treatment and rehabilitation centres with the cost of Rs 22.52 million. These two centres would be set up at Islamabad and Quetta for treatment and rehabilitation of the drug addicts and to make them a viable part of the society.
He said that at present Pakistan is housing 3.5 million drug addicts out of which 0.5 million are heroin addicts and 60,000 are injecting drug users.
In another briefing at ANF headquarters the visiting delegation was informed about the working of ANF and the narcotics situation in Pakistan. They were also apprised about the role of ANF, which acts as a supervisory, co-ordinating and advisory body in the field of narcotics.
They were informed that the ANF is responsible for supply reduction, inquiries, investigation into the assets of the drug barons, pursues legal cases, enhancing international co-operation, reducing the demand of drugs through a preventive education campaign.
The delegation was informed that in 2003-04 the total area under cultivation was 6,694 hectares out of which 78 percent had been eradicated. A total of 16,541.50 acres was cultivated out of which 12,884 acres (78 percent) was destroyed.
They were informed that during the current year 7.783 kilogram heroin, 679 kilogram of opium and 57,111 kilogram of hashish have been captured by ANF.
Total assets were worth Rs 5.362 billion and the value of the frozen assets forfeited was worth Rs 48.42 million and 570 cases were registered against the drug barons.
The visiting Afghan and UN delegation recognised and praised the efforts of the ANF in combating drug menace in Pakistan and for the world community. They lauded the force for its dedicated efforts put in by its rank and file. They stressed the need for further extension of existing mutually beneficial ties between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The delegation emphasised that Afghanistan and Pakistan have a special relationship and their brotherly ties should be further strengthened.