Karim Khan Afridi Welfare Foundation (KKAWF) organised a cycle race to mark the International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) aimed at spreading awareness among the youth about drugs and alcohol, besides giving a chance to people to remember loved ones who lost their lives to drugs.
The IOAD is celebrated around the world since 2001, however, the day was observed in Pakistan for the first time this year.
The event was organised by KKAWF in collaboration with Serena Hotel, Ministry of Sports, Fullbright Foundation, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and other sponsors and partners.
The event was aimed at helping the community understand that this is an issue that affects mainstream society and that no one is immune to an overdose.
Umer Ali, one of the organisers of the event, told Pakistan Today that the purpose of arranging the event was to bring youth, men, women and professional to open environment, as they are busy all day at homes watching TV and playing with their mobiles and laptops. He said that the cycle race was held to involve the youth in healthy activities.
KKAWF Chairperson Cristina Von Sperling Afridi in her welcome note thanked the people for their participation in the activity.
Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) Director General (DG) Major General Nasir Dilawar Shah, Country Representative of UNODC Cesar Guedes, Narcotics Control Division Secretary Ajaz Ali Khan and Inter Provincial Coordination Secretary Raja M Nadir Ali were among the prominent guests who attended the event.
The participants were divided into four categories – junior, aged eight to 13 years; teen, aged 13 to 17 years; youth, aged 18 to 22 and senior.
The event aimed to raise awareness about drugs and overdose and to reduce the stigma of legal and illegal drug-related death.
It also acknowledged the grief felt by families and friends remembering those who have met with death or permanent injury as a result of drug overdose.
