ISLAMABAD: Anti Narcotics Force and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has arranged a two-day regional counter narcotics seminar and workshop on drug free city, concluded here on Wednesday. The seminar and workshop was attended by Ghalib Ali Bandesha Secretary Narcotics Control Division, Cesar Guedes Country Representative UNODC, Major General Khawar Hanif Director General ANF, Brigadier (R) Mowadat Rana and Syed Talat Hussain, Senior Journalist.
Significant attendants included delegates from different countries, diplomatic community, International Organizations, LEAs officials, public representatives, NGOs and media persons. During the conduct of seminar due emphasis was paid to narcotics menace in the region, drug challenges and counter measures, capacity building of Anti Drug Setups by UNODC, measures to improve drug enforcement, role of media in awareness campaigns, ill-effects of addiction and treatment and psychiatric problems of addicts.
Addressing to the occasion, Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control Baleegh ur Rahman highlighted the counter narcotics efforts and achievements made by Pakistan. He also emphasized the commitment of Pakistan to stand along the International community in fight against drugs.
Cesar Guedes reaffirmed UNODC’s support in capacity building of drug related LEAs and provided key role for improving international cooperation across the globe. He also emphasized the drug problem as a shared responsibility, for which UNODC being lead international organization would continue to play a pivotal role.
Major General Khawar Hanif, Director General Anti Narcotics Force apprised commitment and resolve of Pakistan in the field of counter narcotics, including drug supply and drug demand activities. He also appreciated international partners that is, UNODC, UK, Australia and USA, whose support made this international event possible to organize.
The seminar was aimed to promote regional and international cooperation between the authorities from over twenty four countries besides Pakistan, including Gulf States, West Asian, East Asian and South East Asian countries, with the aim of jointly addressing the challenges of drug trafficking emanating from the region.
The two-day seminar and workshop raised the importance of counter-narcotics efforts achievements made by Pakistan, as well as highlighting its linkage with UNODC’s capacity-building contributions in the country.
