The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was observed here on Thursday like other parts of the world with a renewed pledge to fight against narcotics and create greater awareness about drug abuse.
To mark the day, various functions were organised in a bid to create awareness among the people about ill effects of narcotics. Speakers in these functions called for adopting stringent measures to stop inflow of different drugs. Walks were also arranged in a bid to create awareness among the people about the menace of narcotics. In Lahore, the Anti-Narcotics Force Punjab, in collaboration with other agencies, including Excise & Taxation Department held a walk from Bagh-e-Jinnah to Assembly Hall. The participants of the walk were carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans against drug menace.
Punjab Minister for Population Welfare, Neelam Jabbar Chaudhry, said on Thursday that the government is utilising all available resources for strict implementation of anti-narcotics laws besides building public opinion against this menace.
She said the government would deal strictly with the manufacturers and traffickers of narcotics and the people who supply narcotics to the people; however, she stressed that it was the collective responsibility of the civil society in order to set up a drug-free society. She said rehabilitation centres for the addicts, especially, for women & children are being set up throughout the province.
The minister stressed the need for launching massive awareness campaign for sensitising the people specially the women folk about hazardous aspects of smoking with a view to prevent heart, lungs, bronchitis and other fatal diseases as the smokers usually becomes the victims of narcotics also.
She said that billion of rupees are being wasted on smoking annually which is major course of spread of deadly diseases like TB, heart attack even cancer. She said that use of narcotics is not only a legal but also a social and moral problem.
Moreover, the minister said that it is obligation of parents and teachers to keep a vigilance eye on the children and their day to day activities and circles of friends to save the new generation from this scourge. She said that drug-traffickers deserve no leniency, as they are not only the criminal of law but also responsible to destroy humanity.