KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Minister for Narcotics Control Shahzain Bugti Tuesday agreed to work together to control drug proliferation that started in Pakistan after Afghan war and establish more rehabilitation centers in province.

This decision was taken in meeting held between two here at CM House. CM was assisted by provincial ministers, Sardar Shah, Mukesh Chawla, Sajidd Jokhio, Advisor Aijaz Jakhrani, Parliamentary Secretary Qasim Soomro, Chief Secretary Sohail Rajput, IG Police Ghulam Nabi Memon, Adl IG Karachi Javed Odho, PSCM Fayaz Jatoi. Federal Minister was accompanied by Federal Secretary Narcotics Control Ms. Humaira Ahmed, DG ANF Maj Gen Aneeq Rahman, Force Commander ANF Brig Waqar Rizwi, Col Pervaiz and others.

Meeting observed that drug proliferation started in Pakistan after Afghan war. Slum areas of Karachi, in East and South Zones were hub of narcotics activities but after successful anti-gang war operations in Lyari drug menace has come down substantially.

It was pointed out that menace has penetrated educational institutions and both young boys and girls in colleges and universities were getting addicted to new synthetic drugs as well as cocaine.

Meeting was told that there was strong nexus between narcotics and organised crime. Most of street criminals were narcotics addicts.

CM said that narcotics were neither cultivated nor manufactured in or around Karachi but it reached here through major routes connecting Sindh with Balochistan and Punjab. CM said that therefore he has taken three important steps to eradicate menace of narcotics. They include strengthening legislation, operation against peddlers and rehabilitation of drug addicts.

CM said that amendments were made in Control of Narcotics Substance Act 1997 and were notified in 2019 under which quantity recovered heroin and ICE was reduced to 150g for attracting 6/9/C (if quantity of narcotic drug category and psychotropic substance or controlled substance exceeds limit specified in clause) and enhanced overall punishments and specified minimum punishment.

IG Police told meeting that Karachi police have registered 1623 cases in 2023 and arrested 2152 and recovered 32.956 kg heroin, 1264.18 kg charas, 22.766 kg Ice, 6.132 Crystal and 9.54 kg opium.

Police department informed meeting that list of narcotics peddlers has been finalised with input from IB and Special Branch. Top 10 suppliers were identified and kept in confinement and three categories of suppliers were identified for targeting them.

Minister for Narcotics Control said that his ministry wanted that in every district rehabilitation centre should be established so that addicts could not only be rehabilitated but be brought to mainstream.

Minister was told by police dept that Karachi police with help of NGOs was providing free of cost drug addiction treatment, rehabilitation and after care services.

Anti-Narcotic Force DG DG ANF Maj Gen Aneeq Rahman told meeting that Benazir Shaheed ANF Model Addicts Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre, (Centers were functioning at Lyari, Sukkur and Hyderabad and new centers have been established at Malir and Manghopir). He added that Benazir Shaheed ANF MATRC Lyari functioned under City District Govt Karachi from 2002 to 2006 and then Project of Shaheed Benazir ANF MATRC was established in May 2010 with facility of 55 beds.

Published in The Daily National Courier, May, 03 2023

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