Pakistan is the major victim of the drug Production in Afghanistan; approximately fifty per cent of the drug traded from Afghanistan has been consumed here.
Director General Ministry of Narcotics Control Mr. Shahid stated this on Tuesday while addressing an advocacy event on drug prevention, gender justice and protection project here at a local hotel.
The DG said that the responsibility of the provinces has been increased to an extended level to prevent the menace of drug from their relative areas after the 18th constitutional amendment. He expressed grief that role of the federal as well as provincial governments is very limited to cope with the existing challenges. He added that the cooperation of the provinces and federal government should be raised to a certain mark to cure and aware the drug addicts about consequences of its use.
He opined that there is lot of need to handle the enforcement side as well. He highlighted that sixty per cent of the drug addicts in Pakistan lie between the ages of 15 to 30 years. He said that private educational institutions are more vulnerable than the government educational institutions to attract the students towards drug addiction. He added that extra curricular activities, role of family as well as community is most important to prevent the students from this menace.
Moreover, he said that enhanced role of federal and provincial governments, effectiveness of law enforcement agencies, improved role of family, community and educational institutions, and coordinated efforts of NGOs could help a lot to meet the today’s challenges.
He expressed that addiction rate was observed high where tuition rate was high, where both parents were working and where parents don’t have enough time for their children. He also lauded the serious attitude of Pakistani government in fighting against drugs and narcotics and said that Pakistan has second position in this wake. He stated that only five per cent of the drug is being confiscated by the enforcement agencies across the world however, 95 per cent reaches to end users or drug consumers. He highlighted that Afghanistan is the only source of heroin supply to Pakistan.
