Businesses to employ recovered addicts in K-P
Drug addicts exercise at a gym in a rehabilitation complex in Quetta. Photo: Express
The business community in Peshawar has decided to provide jobs to around 475 rehabilitated drug addicts in order to help them restart their lives.
In this regard a meeting between Peshawar Division Commissioner Riaz Khan Mehsud and representatives of local traders and industrialists was held on Saturday.
On this occasion, the representatives of the traders associations expressed full confidence in the efforts for the rehabilitation of drug addicts and assured full cooperation in provision of employment to them.
The ADC Dr Ihteshamul Haq said that 1,200 drug addicts were being rehabilitated in public and private sector treatment centres during Drugs Free Campaign launched on May 25 in Peshawar.
These drug addicts have completely recovered and would be handed over to their families on August 25, 2022.
Out of the total 1,200 rehabilitated drug addicts 475 belong to Peshawar and other parts of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa while 725 hail from Punjab, Sindh, Azad Kashmir and neighbouring Afghanistan.
The rehabilitated persons of Punjab, Sindh and Azad Kashmir would be handed over to their families through deputy commissioners of their districts and the responsibility of provision of employment to them will also be given to them.
Addressing the meeting, the commissioner appealed to the trading community to provide jobs to 475 rehabilitated drug addicts and enable them to earn livelihood for themselves.
In response to the request of the commissioner, the representatives of the trading community unanimously announced that they will employ the rehabilitated drug addicts according to their academic qualifications.
On this occasion, the president, Hotel and Restaurants Association, Habibullah Zahid pledged to provide employment to maximum number of 200 persons followed by Umar Pharmacy, which promised employment for 100 persons.
Similarly, Haji Mohammad Afzal, president Anjuman-e-Tajiran announced to look after two minor children.
The representatives of other traders’ associations made similar commitments for the remaining persons.
Furthermore, the officials of the KP-EZDMC announced that the company has decided to provide paid internship to graduates.
In this connection, another joint meeting of the trading community and district administration is scheduled tomorrow wherein the list of the rehabilitated persons would be handed over to them and they would be employed on the basis of the same serial number.
The commissioner thanked the trading community for their cooperation in the noble effort and termed it a historic step.
The meeting was attended by the representatives of the Tanzim-e-Tajran, Anjuman-e-Tajran, Tajir Insaf Group, Hotels and Restaurants Association, Petroleum Dealers Association and Peshawar Cantonment Tajir Association.
The officials who attended the meeting included Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Dr Ihteshamul Haq, and General Manager (GM) K-P Economic Zones Development and Management Company (EZDMC) Ishfaq Afridi.
The trading community was represented by Malik Meher Elahi, Haji Mohammad Afzal, Shahid Khan, Mujeebur Rehman, Abdul Majid, Habibullah Zahid and others.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 22nd, 2022.