On Wednesday, Pakistan joined countries all over the world in observing International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in an effort to generate awareness about the danger of drugs and illegal trafficking.
To mark the occasion, various functions and events were held across the country, including a drug burning ceremony in the city organised by the Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) that destroyed 121 tonnes of narcotics.
Among the substances burned were a whopping 10,911 kgs of heroin, 83,457 kgs of hashish and 26,453 kgs of opium. ANF Director General (DG) Major General Malik Zafar Iqbal attended the event along with other high ranking officials from law enforcement agencies and civil administrations. The gathering also included diplomats, drug liaison officers from various embassies, media representatives and social workers.
The ANF DG stressed the government’s commitment to fighting the menace of drug use. He highlighted the efforts of the nation’s Law Enforcement Agencies towards the cause and added that the main aim of celebrating International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was to create public awareness.
The ANF, since its inception in 1995, has worked to counter the illegal drug trade with a three-pronged strategy: reducing the drug supply, reducing the demand for drugs and accelerating initiatives such as creating mass awareness, community participation, and international cooperation. DG Iqbal commented on their successes saying, “The ANF has been able to achieve major breakthroughs in combating the menace of drugs at national, regional and international levels.” He also mentioned the work of the ANF against the opiate trade in the country saying, “The growth of poppy in Pakistan has been drastically reduced over the years by ANF with the assistance of other law enforcement agencies and donors like the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC). Through concerted efforts, we have achieved the status of a poppy free state as per standards of the UNODC.”
This achievement has been greatly lauded in the international community but the recent increase in poppy cultivation in Afghanistan has somewhat offset its success. Opiate trafficking has increased in recent years, both into Pakistan to meet the domestic demand, and out of the country to be sold abroad.
The DG also mentioned that due to relentless efforts by the ANF, the year 2013 is going to be record breaking in terms of drug seizures. During the first six months of this year, 2,840 kgs of heroin, 81,295 kgs of hashish, 4,776 kgs of opium, 104,043 kgs of HCI Acetic Anhydride, 676 kgs morphine, 2,750 kgs of ecstasy tabs and 3.2 kgs of cocaine have already been seized. Furthermore, the ANF made the biggest seizure in their history this year, taking 1,096 kgs of heroin in a single operation in Balochistan, and 103,563 kgs mixture of HCI and Acetic Anhydride (precursor chemicals) in Peshawar.
Drug trafficking, at both the national and international level, is a well-equipped, organised and delicately netted trade. Fighting it is undoubtedly an uphill task, but the DG maintained that the ANF, although small in size, would execute its mission with commitment and dedication. “We are committed especially to keep our youth, which is our future, away from drug abuse. The fight against drugs is a shared responsibility, therefore we need definite cooperation of the whole nation, under the guidance and assistance of federal and provincial governments,” he said.
