ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control on Wednesday declared War against Drugs across the country to curb spread of this menace and save lives of millions of drug addicts in the country.
“Hundreds of people die every day in country due to drug-related complications. I declare War on Drugs and appeal to civil society, politicians and media to play their due role for welfare of those suffering from addiction and help save our coming generations,” Senator Rehman Malik said this while chairing the meeting in Islamabad.
Senators Shahi Syed, Chaudhary Tanvir Khan, Syed Shibli Faraz, Mukhtar Ahmed Dhamra – Aajiz, Muhammad Saleh Shah, Talha Mahmood, senior officials of Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control, Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) and Islamabad police. Dr. Maria Sultan, Director General South Asian Strategic Stability Institute (SASSI) attended the meeting as Special Invitee.
Rehman Malik said all television channels should devote 0.5 per cent of air time to raise awareness on devastations of drug addiction. Malik was of the view that the drug business had a serious role in promoting terrorism. He said Afghanistan and India are involved in spreading of drugs.
He said alarming situation of drug addiction cannot be tolerated anymore.
The Committee will lead a campaign against drug, a walk against drugs to be held in constitutional avenue, media and civil society and NGOs are appealed to participate in campaign against drugs.
“It is a time to take fierce actions against drug dealers across the country, agencies must identify black sheep among themselves who are abetting drugs smugglers and dealers. Drug is as much dangerous as much terrorism is and those dealing with drugs are no less worse than terrorists,” he said and added punishment must be increased and necessary legislation is need of the hour.
Rehman Malik appreciated Chief Ministers of all four provinces and Law enforcement agencies for maintaining peace during Muharram across the country.
He said the efforts and sacrifices of our security agencies are highly appreciable and much-admirable and will not go waste. He said the whole nation stand by Pakistan Army and all law enforcement agencies in war against terrorism.
The ANF authorities gave a detailed briefing on figure of addicts in schools, measures taken to check drugs sale to the students. Committee expressed grave concerns over the increase in figures of drug addicts in educational institutions. It was briefed that the figure of addicts in Schools is not available as no survey has been conducted in this regard.
The officials said ANF has four hospitals to rehabilitate addicts while another was being established in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The major problems plaguing the ANF concerned equipment and accommodation, the official said and added some scanners have been provided by Saudi Arabia that were installed at Wagha border and negotiations are ongoing with China for provision of equipment.
Secretary Narcotics Control said the government had framed various laws to curb the menace of drug trafficking.
Keeping in view the alarming situation of drug addiction particularly among the students, the Chairman declared WAR ON DRUGS which was fully endorsed by the committee.
He said Afghanistan on one hand is supplying us death in shape of terrorism and on the other hand in collaboration with India is involved in drugs.
Expressing grave concerns over the supply of drugs in reputable educational institutions in the Capital city, Senator Rehman Malik said that strict actions to be taken against those schools and owners where drugs is being supplied easily.
In this backdrop, the committee recommended that more strict measures be taken by the government, and strict legislations should be done in this regard.
He proposed that it should be made mandatory for every public and private school, college and university to have a drug test of every student at least twice a year and the report should be checked by ANF.
The Schools, Colleges and Universities should take strict measures to have a check on drug related activities on the campuses and should be made responsible to report to ANF authorities, said Rehman Malik.
Senator Rehman Malik said that ANF should be empowered like other forces and manpower to be enhanced as soon as possible.
He tasked Senator Mukhtar Ahmed Dhamrah @ Aajiz and Senator Chaudhry Tanvir to prepare proposals so as to further improve performance of Narcotics Division in consultation with federal and provincial authorities.
They would coordinate with the provincial authorities in implementing the recommended measures by the committee.
The committee recommended that the provincial Chief Secretaries along with the IG’s and Home Secretaries are directed to attend the next meeting and brief the committee about the provincial programmes/planning in combating the menace of drug addiction in youth.
He said performance of Narcotics Control Division is commendable in curbing the menace in spite of its limited resources.
