‘6 million addicts in Pakistan’
There are 6 million people in the country, who are addicted to drugs with insufficient treatment facilities, said Secretary Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control, Nawabzada Akbar Azam Khan Hoti here Saturday.
The government was, however, making efforts to control drugs addiction, he said while addressing the opening ceremony of three-day 7th “Asian Recovery Symposium” organized by Drug Free Pakistan Foundation (DFPF) and Young Blood Daska (YBD) in collaboration of Colombo Plan (ACC).
The symposium is aimed at creating a facilitating network for professionals, clinical psychologists, family therapists, counselors, and recovering and co-dependent individuals, and updating the latest knowledge, strategies and modalities about treatment and rehabilitation.
The federal secretary underlined the importance of awareness among the people about the harmful effects of drugs and narcotics. He said the civil society should jointly work to break the supply network of narcotics. He also urged international community to play its role in ending drugs smuggling.
Managing Director of Pakistan Bait Ul Mal, Abid Wahid Sheikh, said his institution was bearing medical expenditure of treatment of drug addicts.
President of New Horizons Care Center Muhammad Sohail Younus said the nation had the ability to tackle all challenges, including drugs addiction.
MNA Iftikhar Ul Hassan, Dr Jamal Nasir, President Young Blood Daska Foundation Basheer Naz, Director Drug Advisory Programme Antonious Riva Setiawan and Farheen Naveed were also present at the symposium.
