Senate panel calls for drug emergency

Senator Abdul Shakoor Khan says Pakistan's poppy-free status is in peril

ISLAMABAD:

Senate Standing Committee for Anti-Terrorism has called for declaring national emergency to stamp out the menace of drugs from the country.

During the meeting of the Senate panel under the chair of Senator Hidayat Ullah Khan, all the stakeholders were urged to play their role to rid the country of drugs.

Shehzad Durrani, interim secretary, Ministry of Narcotics Control told the committee that around 622 tonnes of drugs had been recovered since 2023, adding the ministry has organised 14,509 awareness activities during the period. The overall budget crosses Rs7.59 billion, including Rs265 million for the ministry and Rs7.32 billion for anti-narcotics force.

ANF Director General Major General Abdul Moeed told the meeting that the ANF had been facing shortage of manpower for the last 10 years, which consisted of 3,100 personnel. He said the ANF has launched a crackdown to stamp out the menace of drugs from educational institutions on the directives of the PM and COAS.

He pointed out that some unscrupulous elements managed to escape in some areas due to terrorism and other matters. He proposed that the national emergency be declared to eradicate drugs from the country, and all stakeholders work in synergy for the cause.

During the hearing when the ministry and ANF officials told the committee members that a plan is on the cards to establish a hospital for the rehabilitation of drug addicts, Senator Abdul Shakoor prompted by saying, "it is not your domain to build hospitals. Your job is to curb drugs proliferation and ANF had better do its job."

He highlighted the menace of drugs has increased by thousand folds in Balochistan, adding 50 percent of drugs reach Karachi from Gulistan and 50 percent is busted. "Those who recover the drugs, they themselves contact the drug dealer and return 30 percent of the drugs while the FIR is lodged only on 20 percent," claimed the Senator. He added only 5 percent of the drug peddlers get punishment while the rest walk free due to weak challans and poor performance.

Senator Abdul Shakoor Khan directed the ministry and ANF to provide the committee with a 5-year record, detailing how many accused were convicted by the sessions court and high court.

The Senator said Pakistan's poppy-free status is in peril due to the drug situation in Balochistan. He urged the ANF to eradicate the menace with the support of tribal elders. He vowed to support the effort.

Brigadier Rashid told the committee that the ANF has started a drive to purge 256 universities and surrounding areas from drugs. Every university has formed anti-drug and tobacco committees. 56 criminals have been busted from universities' hostels.