Pakistan adopts new strategy against drug smuggling. The Federal Minister for Narcotics Control Brig (R) Ijaz Ahmad Shah chaired a high profile meeting in Islamabad. The Minister said that the Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed him to take immediate and strict action over the widespread use of drug ecstasy amongst the youth to be specific. He also welcomed the newly appointed DG ANF Major General Ghulam Shabbir Narejo on board. He suggested that operational changes need to be brought to improve the performance of Anti-Narcotics Force.
The functions of ANF include conduct of drug law enforcement operations through its field component and subsequently ensuring culmination of law enforcement operational cycle through legal proceedings. Moreover, in also includes investigation, freezing, litigation, legal disposal of assets acquired with drug money.
Pakistan’s strategy against Drug Smuggling
The DG agreed with the Minister and said that collective and well coordinated efforts on the basis of Intelligence based operations can produce fruitful results. Ijaz shah said “Other than the Ministry, the administration and the police must also play their role. Local police stations should be on board to target and arrest the drug dealers”.
The Federal Minister added further by saying that Anti-Narcotics Force needs to be upgraded in terms of equipment in order to ensure effective surveillance. He also emphasized over the fact that drug dealers are not ordinary people and effective strategy needs to be formulated to hold them accountable. “The certainty and assurance of punishment is also mandatory” he added. The threat of drug is as dangerous as terrorism, it has destructive consequences.
Brig (R) Ijaz Ahmad Shah said while trying to explain the gravity of the situation. “Anti-Narcotics force Sindh is doing a good job, in both operational and rehabilitation fronts” the Minister lauded the efforts and suggested the rest to do the same.
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Pilot Project against Drugs Misuse
He also said the Government College University, Lahore has been declared the first drug free campus of the country. He said that this can be treated as a pilot project and similar model to be replicated in other institutions as well. “We must understand how students, faculty, administration and the Government can play respective roles to achieve drug free status”.
Secretary Narcotics Control, Akbar Durrani said that without the collective efforts of all stakeholders, it is not possible to achieve the goal of creating drug free society”. The meeting was attended by the Secretary Narcotics Control, Akbar Durrani (TI)/PAS, DG ANF Major General Ghulam Shabbir Narejo, DIG Afzaal Kausar, representatives from intelligence agencies, DC Islamabad and Senior officials from the Ministry of Narcotics Control and ANF.
