The government is committed to eliminate drug abuse and rehabilitate those involved in the use of drugs so that they could once again become healthy and useful members of the society. This was stated by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz while talking to the Minister for Narcotics Control, Ghous Baksh Khan Mahar, who called on him to present the annual report of the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) for the year 2004-5 on the eve of the International Narcotics Control Day, at the Prime Minister House on Sunday.
The Prime Minister said that all relevant government authorities and agencies should mobilise themselves and redouble their efforts to check proliferation of synthetic drugs in the society and warned that those involved in the heinous trade would be given exemplary punishment.
The Prime Minister further said that the civil society and non government organisations have a critical role to play in the rehabilitation of the addicts and called upon all segments of the society to come forward and play their due role in this regard.
The minister apprised the Prime Minister of the measures being taken by his ministry in collaboration with other government agencies and departments both for supply and demand reduction and expressed the confidence that Pakistan will be a poppy free country within a period of one year.