ANF conducts successful drug prevention campaigns

Experts say drug abuse has now become a threat to national security

ISLAMABAD: The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) has conducted 364 awareness and drug prevention activities in one year to alert the masses, particularly the youth, about the hazards of drugs.

The force, which also observed International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26, arranged activities including seminars, lectures, awareness walks, sports events, tableaus, essay competitions, free medical camps, advertisements in print and electronic media and distribution of informational material etc.



Most youngsters of our country start using drugs because they idealise the west and try to follow their culture of drugs and enjoyment of life, while some of them start using it out of curiosity and for the pleasure they get by using it.

Depression and disappointment sometimes becomes reason for drug addiction among the youth.

Clearly, the primary cause, yet the indicators that appear to make certain individuals more susceptible to drug addiction are its use by the parents, mental issues, depression, absence of parental association, work stress, marital problems, monetary challenges, low cost and simple access to drug, anxiety etc.

However, the hazard of drugs can be battled and education is the primary fight. Everyone should be educated about the harm and effects of drugs so that they may know the consequences of its use and can avoid it.

The ANF, realising the situation, has taken numerous steps under its countrywide awareness campaign and started publication of ANF public service message "Say No to Drugs" on public sector advertisements, gas and telephone bills, postal envelopes, passenger tickets and cargo receipts.

Experts on Friday said magnitude of drug menace not only undermines global public health, socioeconomic synopsis and international stability, but it has also become an issue of national security.

Pakistan itself is a poppy free country, but its population became a victim of regional opiate production.

Pakistan's greatest asset and future – the youth – that comprise 66 percent of the population is the worst affected. Protecting our youth and the coming generation from the menace is inevitable for prosperous future.

To protect the youth, the ANF under insight of Ministry of Interior, is working tirelessly in coordination with other law enforcement agencies.

The force has asked the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to issue instructions to all public and private universities for arranging awareness raising programmes against drug abuse for students, teaching faculty and parents.



For the treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts, the ANF is expanding its drug treatment facility with 178 more beds in Karachi, Sukkur and Peshawar, including establishment of 48-bed Female and Juvenile Drug Treatment Ward within existing MATRC Karachi in addition to existing 145-bed Drug Treatment Facilities in Islamabad, Quetta and Karachi.

During last year, the ANF provided free-of-cost drug treatment to hundreds of drug addicts at its Drug Treatment Centres.
The ANF arranged training courses at ANF Academy wherein 1,943 officers and officials of the ANF as well as other LEAs were imparted professional training.

Besides, the ANF has also upgraded the ANF Balochistan in respect of deployment, intelligence ability, technical capability and mobility with special focus on Gwadar in view of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). However, enormity of the drug problem in the region and its resultant fall out on Pakistan and the world at large is a mega challenge.



Pakistan has attained status of poppy-free state since 2001, but the neighbouring territories produce over 90 per cent of the world's opiates which puts Pakistan in double jeopardy of being a victim as well as a transit country.

During last year, the ANF registered 1,172 cases, arrested 1,338 persons, including 27 foreign nationals, involved in drug trafficking. It also seized 164.07 metric tons of drugs and 56.358 metric tons of prohibited chemical while busted nine domestic and one international Drug Trafficking Organisations.

On the whole, professional and operational performance of ANF has been par excellence making it one of the elite forces at national, regional and international levels.