Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Caretaker Chief Minister Muhammad Azam Khan has said that 11 per cent of the population in the province was suffering from drug abuse, terming the prevailing situation of drug use in Pakistan and specially in K-P of grave concern.
He added that it was a collective responsibility of all segments of society, including the government, to combat it. Chief Minister stressed the need of coordinated and concerted efforts by the government agencies and welfare organizations under a well-devised strategy so that the menace of drugs could be eradicated on a sustainable basis.
While lauding the role of Dost Welfare Foundation in this regard, Muhammad Azam Khan said that the foundation had been working for the last 30 years for the rehabilitation of drug addicts in the province to make them useful citizens which deserves appreciation.
He expressed these views while addressing a function organized here on Saturday in connection with the 30 years celebration of Dost Welfare Foundation.
Azam Khan remarked that during these three decades of its establishment, the foundation has extended various kinds of services and facilities to more than 400,000 drugs addicts for which the management of the foundation deserves huge felicitation. He expressed the hope that the foundation will continue its selfless services for humanity in future as well.
“The 30-year-long journey of Dost Welfare Foundation is full of remarkable achievements which has been aided and supported by its companions and friends who have so generously contributed all their time and efforts in reaching out to the most vulnerable segments in our society to heal and restore their self-respect,” the chief minister said, adding that organisation’s services were remarkable particularly in K-P, former Fata and parts of Afghanistan, which were veritable war zones for the past 40 years, include victims of war such as refugees, displaced persons, women and children in crisis and community members caught in the crossfire.
Azam Khan stated that Pakistan in general and K-P in particular has been in the grip of massive drug addiction which is effecting the younger generation adversely; and added that according to the UNODC, 11 per cent population of K-P is using hard drugs, which is almost double figure of other provinces.
“With a professional and dedicated term, DWF provides a continuum of care through its program for drug abuse prevention, rehabilitation, vocational skill training, HIV prevention, human rights protection, legal assistance, research and networking with government departments and civil society organizations,” the chief minister maintained, adding that that the foundation is working in areas where normally government agencies do not reach.
He stressed that such work can best be undertaken by non-governmental organizations with government support through public-private partnership.
Azam Khan further said that besides the treatment and rehabilitation of drug users, the foundation also reaches out to the most vulnerable and marginalized groups of society such as people at risk of or infected by HIV/AIDs, prisons inmates, juvenile offenders, street children, women in crisis, victims of war and disaster, adding that it also reaches out to these unfortunate miserable and stigmatized individuals living in difficult conditions through a process of awareness, primary prevention, rehabilitation and social development.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 12th, 2023.
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