The Punjab government has decided not to leave drug addicts unattended and under the directives of Chief Minister Punjab, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, a special committee has been constituted at provincial level which would submit its recommendations in four weeks for effective treatment of addicts so that they could become useful citizens.
This project would cover the entire province, while separate wards at each DHQ and THQ hospitals are being set up, said Executive Director, Punjab Institute of Mental Health (PIMH), Brigadier Dr Saeed A. Akhtar (Retd).
Dr Saeed, who has been appointed the Chairman/Convenor of the Committee, said that the drug addiction was spreading like an epidemic among the youth and it has become necessary to take appropriate steps to check it at initial stage. He told that Chief Minister himself held a meeting in this regard and gave his vision about the issue. The Chief Minister told the meeting that this step was being taken in pursuance of the Prime Minister's directives.
Dr Saeed further said that at this initial stage designing the scope of the task, method to operate and other related things were being assessed. "We are involving and establishing contents and liaison with all the concerned agencies and institutions like Anti-Narcotics Board, Child Protection Bureau, EDOs Health of all districts, Medical Superintendents of DHQs and THQs Hospitals to seek information and involving them in this task", said Brigadier Saeed.
He informed that other members of the committee included Director General Health Services Punjab Dr Muhammad Aslam Chaudhry, Dr Saad Bashir head of the Psychiatry Department Allama Iqbal Medical College, Dr Nasir Saeed Khan head of Psychiatry Department, Dr Khalid Mughal, Consultant Psychiatrist, PIMH and Dr Shamshad Ahmad Gill, Consultant Psychiatrist, Allama Iqbal Medical College Sialkot.
Dr Saeed told that Chief Minister desired that drugs addicts must not be left on the mercy of fate rather they should be properly treated and engaged in some positive activities to make them useful person of the society.
He added that CM has already issued directives to spare 20 beds at each DHQ and 10 beds at each THQ hospitals for the treatment of drug addicts. He expressed the hope that the report in this behalf would be finalised within next 20 days for onward transmission to the Chief Minister.