Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), in addition to existing 145-bed Model Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation Centres (MATRCs), is expanding this facility to 173 more beds in Karachi, Sukkur and Peshawar.
The ANF is running the centres in Islamabad, Quetta and Karachi. The centres in Islamabad and Quetta (having capacity of 45 beds each) are government-funded, while Karachi centre (55 beds) is being run on self-help basis with donors’ support, official sources said on Monday.
He said working under control of Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control, a 45-bedded Model Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre was established at Thanda Pani, Lehtrar Road which has now been shifted to Model Town, Industrial Area in Islamabad.
These MATRCs have treated thousands of drug addicts from different parts of the country, ensuring opportunities for them in returning to normal life.
The sources said the ANF has provided treatment to 2045 drug addicts in two years to bring them back to normal life. The centres treated 1,210 drug addicts in 2015 and 835 in 2016.
These centres provide free treatment, boarding and lodging facilities to drug addicts and a complete follow-up is also conducted after 45 days treatment. The sources said the provincial governments run primary, secondary and tertiary level hospitals in various districts where medical treatment (including treatment of addicts) is undertaken, and added that as per National Anti Narcotics Policy, each District Hospital is supposed to have 20-beds drug treatment ward.
Moreover, the sources said the permission to establish hospital in private sector, control of private hospitals and treatment protocol to be followed are dealt by the provincial health departments.
Regarding steps taken to curb drug addiction in the country, the sources said ANF had launched Youth Ambassador Programme which has over 5000 active youth ambassadors throughout the country.
It is basically homed to take youth onboard for awareness and drug abuse prevention, with the message ‘Say No to Drugs’. It aimed at promoting mass awareness highlighting emerging trends of drug abuse especially amongst street children, students, parents and teachers.
It also provides platform for projecting young talent to channelise the role of youth in serving humanity and society without any discrimination and exploitation.
The sources said ANF also undertakes media campaigns to disseminate awareness at national level. The sources said the number of activities conducted during the last three years was more than 1,000, out of which 185 such activities were conducted during 2014, 437 during 2015 and 378 in 2016.
The awareness activities included seminars, lectures, awareness walks/ rallies, awareness sessions, essay competitions, painting competitions, tableaus, sports events, and advertisements in print/electronic media and distribution of informational material etc for creating awareness among the masses.
The sources said the ANF was also looking forward to extending requisite drug treatment facilities at all central jails at provincial capitals of the country.
The ANF has provided free treatment to over 13,000 addict-patients in hospitals and 1994 addict-prisoner at Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi. ANF had prosecuted 424 cases during 2016, of which 42 acquitted and 382 were convicted which shows 90 per cent successful conviction rate.
Four death penalties and 81 life imprisonments were also included in total prosecuted cases during the year. Last year ANF also frozen Rs 839.7 million of assets, out of which Rs 19.07 million have been forfeited and Rs 6.95 million realised.
The sources said ANF has also made substantial progress towards its capacity building whereby 547 new recruits has joined ranks, latest body-scanners have been deployed at major airports, mobility has been revamped and ANF Canine and Breeding Centre has met wishful target by providing 44 new sniffer dogs.
