Countering the world drug problem

The World Drug Report 2016 comes at a decisive moment, just months after member states at a special session of the UN General Assembly adopted a comprehensive set of operational recommendations on the “World Drug Problem”. The session was only the third in the history of the UN General Assembly to focus on drugs, and the resulting outcome document, entitled “Our joint commitment to effectively addressing and countering the world drug problem” provides a concrete way forward to take action on shared challenges. The member states have reaffirmed their commitment to addressing persistent, new and evolving challenges in line with the three UN drug control conventions, which were recognised as allowing states sufficient flexibility to design and implement national drug policies consistent with the principle of common and shared responsibility.

The World Drug Report 2016, which provides a comprehensive overview of major developments in drug markets, trafficking routes and the health impact of drug use supports comprehensive, balanced and integrated rights-based approaches. It offers insight into the wide-ranging impact of drug use, not only on the health and wellbeing of individuals, but also on those around them (families and communities). This can include consequences such as HIV infection and the threat of violence, faced in particular by women and children. The report also flags the alarming rise in heroin use in some regions, while the challenges posed by new psychoactive substances also remain a serious concern. It also examines the use of the ‘darknet’ for drug trafficking, as well as the potential of illicit drug profits to fund terrorism and violent extremism.

Pakistan is considered the main transit country for narcotics produced in neighbouring Afghanistan, particularly heroin, opium and hashish. Specifically, the UNODC estimates that approximately 43 per cent of Afghan opiates are trafficked through Pakistan. Pakistani law enforcement agencies are working to reinforce controls along the Afghan-Pakistani border, in addition to their endeavours in demand reduction; however, they are encountering significant difficulties in the border region largely due to the porous nature of the border itself and the challenging security situation in Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Fata.

In 2015, Pakistani law-enforcement agencies aeized 360 tonnes of narcotics, estimated to be worth $2.5 billion, thus making a remarkable contribution to global counter-narcotics efforts. As a strategic partner of the Pakistan government for over 35 years, the UNODC Country Office in Pakistan supports the government’s efforts to implement the provisions of the three UN drug control conventions. Through its first country programme (2010-16) and the envisaged second country programme (2016-19), the Country Office looks forward to further enhancing the operational capacity of the frontline law-enforcement agencies, facilitating information sharing and cooperation with international and regional counterparts, as well as promoting Pakistan’s achievements internationally.

Keeping up with the emerging needs, the UNODC Country Office in Pakistan and the Japanese embassy have recently signed a project entitled “Strengthening Border Security against Illicit Drug Trafficking and Related Transnational Organised Crime”, which will contribute to the vision of creating a safer community, free from the threats posed by illicit narcotics trafficking and transnational organised crime. The project aims at strengthening the capacity of the Anti-Narcotics Force and other law-enforcement agencies in effectively interdicting illicit narcotics entering or leaving the country through air, land and sea by way of effective border management. The generous contribution of the Japanese government for the envisaged four-year project is approximately $6.5 million.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 29^th, 2016.

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