Pakistan and India have signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation to check narcotics smuggling in which both sides have agreed to share information on drugs transit trafficking.
The signature ceremony was held at the Headquarters of Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) after the conclusion of two days talks at the director general level. Indian delegation was led by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Director General OPS Malik while Pakistani side was headed by ANF Director General Syed Shakeel Hussain.
During two days talks, both sides shared concern of the growing menace of narcotics. The existing cooperation and information sharing between ANF and NCB was noted as satisfactory. It was also agreed to enhance mutual cooperation through effective and sustained steps to control drug trafficking.
After signing the MoU, both the director generals briefed the media about the talks. On the occasion, Shakeel Hussain said that the MoU would provide a legal framework to both the countries to cooperate in preventing narcotics smuggling especially transit trafficking of the drugs.
Although MoU does not cover the transfer of detained smugglers to each side but it is hoped that with the passage of time some new ways of cooperation would be opened as and when the process of negotiation would move forward, he said. Pakistan has been declared poppy free country by the United Nations.
The NCB head said that some kind of steroids and chemicals, which are used in drug manufacturing are prepared by some part pharmaceutical industries of India. So it is decided that NCB would share information about the smuggling of these chemicals to ANF besides drug trafficking. He appreciated ANF for preventing drug smuggling and to make Pakistan a narcotics free country.
