Pakistan, China for joint efforts against drugs
Safron minister says CPEC must be made a drug-free route
PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
With Pakistan, a major conduit for the flow of drugs from Afghanistan to the rest of the world, Islamabad and its eastern neighbour and major trading partner Beijing on Friday agreed on joint efforts to make the region drug-free.
This was promised during a meeting between Chinese Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM), Pang Chunxue and State Minister for SAFRON and Narcotics Control Shehryar Khan Afridi at the Narcotics Control Ministry on Friday.
Afridi said that Pakistan and China’s friendship should be a model of friendship in world diplomacy. Moreover, he said that the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) should be turned into the first drug-free route in the world.
In this regard, the state minister said that Pakistan has fortified its borders to choke the narcotics trade.
“In narcotics control, we need to learn from the best practices of China,” he said, adding that both countries need to collaborate to stop the flow of illicit drugs trade from Afghanistan to the world.
“Synthetic drugs are targeting our youth and are the biggest challenge. World cooperation is a must to stop the drugs flow from Afghanistan to the rest of the world,” he said.
“We have developed the world's biggest databank on criminals involved in drugs and money laundering,” he said.
The minister appreciated China's role in supporting Pakistan’s stance on the Indian occupation of the disputed Himalayan territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), proving that China is Pakistan’s iron-brother and a time-tested friend.
“Since drugs are the biggest threat to our future generations, we have to jointly fight this menace,” he said.
Talking about investment along CPEC routes, Afridi said that the Kohat district in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) serves as a gateway to the southern districts of the province. Chinese investments in this area, he suggested, will help generate thousands of jobs on the western route of the CPEC. He added that the western route provides the shortest route to Gwadar.
Pang said impressive progress has been made in the second phase of CPEC.
“We are focusing on industrial cooperation, agriculture development and social sector. The JCC was good and we have also very good cooperation and support each other on international issues,” the deputy mission chief said, adding, “We are working on Special Economic Zones that will provide job opportunities for the youth and would bring in regional development.”
“We also have good cooperation in anti-narcotics operations,” she added. “We appreciate Pakistan's efforts for refugees. We will coordinate in future to assist the refugees.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 7th, 2019.
With Pakistan, a major conduit for the flow of drugs from Afghanistan to the rest of the world, Islamabad and its eastern neighbour and major trading partner Beijing on Friday agreed on joint efforts to make the region drug-free.
This was promised during a meeting between Chinese Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM), Pang Chunxue and State Minister for SAFRON and Narcotics Control Shehryar Khan Afridi at the Narcotics Control Ministry on Friday.
Afridi said that Pakistan and China’s friendship should be a model of friendship in world diplomacy. Moreover, he said that the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) should be turned into the first drug-free route in the world.
In this regard, the state minister said that Pakistan has fortified its borders to choke the narcotics trade.
“In narcotics control, we need to learn from the best practices of China,” he said, adding that both countries need to collaborate to stop the flow of illicit drugs trade from Afghanistan to the world.
“Synthetic drugs are targeting our youth and are the biggest challenge. World cooperation is a must to stop the drugs flow from Afghanistan to the rest of the world,” he said.
“We have developed the world's biggest databank on criminals involved in drugs and money laundering,” he said.
The minister appreciated China's role in supporting Pakistan’s stance on the Indian occupation of the disputed Himalayan territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), proving that China is Pakistan’s iron-brother and a time-tested friend.
“Since drugs are the biggest threat to our future generations, we have to jointly fight this menace,” he said.
Talking about investment along CPEC routes, Afridi said that the Kohat district in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) serves as a gateway to the southern districts of the province. Chinese investments in this area, he suggested, will help generate thousands of jobs on the western route of the CPEC. He added that the western route provides the shortest route to Gwadar.
Pang said impressive progress has been made in the second phase of CPEC.
“We are focusing on industrial cooperation, agriculture development and social sector. The JCC was good and we have also very good cooperation and support each other on international issues,” the deputy mission chief said, adding, “We are working on Special Economic Zones that will provide job opportunities for the youth and would bring in regional development.”
“We also have good cooperation in anti-narcotics operations,” she added. “We appreciate Pakistan's efforts for refugees. We will coordinate in future to assist the refugees.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 7th, 2019.