Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti on Wednesday reaffirmed his government's commitment to eradicating poppy cultivation from the province, warning that strict measures will be taken against anyone found involved in the practice.
Addressing the Balochistan Assembly, Bugti said that with the support of the federal government, poppy crops had already been eliminated from more than 36,000 hectares of land. He vowed the campaign would continue until the province was completely free of the illicit crop.
"Poppy cultivation will not be tolerated, whether by local landowners or individuals crossing the border," the chief minister declared. "We will arrest offenders, confiscate their land, and destroy the crop before it matures."
He further informed lawmakers that a new law was being prepared to strengthen measures against drug cultivation. Bugti also urged the public through social media not to engage in poppy farming, cautioning that violators would face severe consequences.
The chief minister stressed that Pakistan enjoys a "poppy-free status" at the international level, and the province would not allow any activity that could undermine this position.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ