The Senate Standing Committee on Narcotics Control has directed the government agencies to redouble their efforts for eradicating this menace from the length and breadth of the country.
The meeting of the committee held here on Monday called for greater co-ordination among the narcotics control ministry and other relevant departments in order to carry out their activities in a more effective manner, particularly with regard to checking trafficking of narcotics. The Committee was informed that Pakistan was one of the highest-ranking countries with regard to seizure of hashish for the last 2-3 years.
Chairing the meeting, Senator Kalsoom Perveen said that Narcotics Control Division and other relevant departments should step-up their efforts to fight against drug trade expansion. In this connection, the committee observed that the border areas of the country, which form the main hub of supply, be monitored regularly and effectively.
It also called for enhancing public awareness regarding the disastrous consequences of drug abuse especially for the younger generation. It was also suggested that political agents might also be taken into confidence with regard to the preventive measures being undertaken by the government.
Earlier, Secretary Narcotics Control Division and senior officers of the Anti-Narcotics Force briefed the committee on the activities of the force for checking the proliferation of drugs into the country.
Federal Minister for Narcotics Control Ghaus Bux Khan Maher, Secretary Narcotics Control Ismail Niazi Senators Sardar Mehmud Khan, Tahira Latif, Abdul Raziq, Syed Muhammad Hussain, Maulana Gul Naseeb Khan, Rehmatullah Kakar and Abdul Rahim Khan Mandokhail and senior officers of the Narcotics Control Division attended the meeting.