PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has prepared a draft bill for the prevention of drug abuse, recommending imposition of strict penalties on the trade of ice and other narcotics.
KP authorities recommended the imposition of strict penalties on drug-related cases in the bill devised eliminate the menace in the province as well as the establishment of special anti-narcotic courts to try responsible persons.
According to the draft bill, individuals involved in making and trading narcotics will be pronounced to a 25-year jail term and seizure of assets. Additionally, seven-year imprisonment and Rs0.3 million fine will be imposed on a person who possesses ice up to 100 gram.
The draft bill would be presented in the provincial assembly for final approval in connection with the government’s bid to expedite drive against drugs.
It was further recommended to register drug addicted persons to provide medical treatment funded by the provincial government.
On February 28, KP Chief Minister (CM) Mahmood Khan had announced to bring a draft law for the prevention of drug abuse in the provincial assembly in order to eradicate the menace in the province.
State Minister for Interior Shehryar Afridi had also foretold that the government would expedite the drive against drugs, adding that operations against narcotics would be extended to every nook and corner of the country.
Addressing a drug burning ceremony on February 11, Afridi had reiterated his promise to make Pakistan a narcotics-free country. He said that the government would leave no stone unturned in ridding the country’s youth of the menace of narcotics.
The minister lauded the performance of Pakistan Coast Guard (PCG) and said that it was playing a key role in controlling drugs. He underscored the need for efforts at international level to control the spread of narcotics, adding that a fence was erected at the Pak-Afghan border to control cross border smuggling of drugs.
