RAWALPINDI: The Secretary, Ministry of Narcotics Control (MNC), Iqbal Mehmood visited Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) Headquarters here on Thursday.
It was his first formal visit to the Headquarters after assuming charge of the office. He was welcomed by Director General ANF, Major General Musarrat Nawaz Malik and Senior ANF Officers.
The Secretary was briefed on counter narcotics endeavors being rendered by ANF, professional achievements, current drug situation and major challenges being faced with regard to trafficking of narcotics, precursor chemicals and psychotropic substances. He was apprised that ANF was also vigorously undertaking drug demand reduction campaigns through public awareness drives and community participation activities throughout Pakistan. The ANF is also running rehabilitation centers providing free of cost treatment to the drug addicts.
The Secretary was also briefed that during year 2017, ANF registered 944 drug related cases, arrested 1067 offenders and seized 97693 kg Hashish, 31803 kg Opium, 26664 kg Heroin, 386 kg Cocaine, 1896 kg Synthetic Drugs, 89 kg Psychotropic tablets and 56007 kg Precursor Chemicals. Moreover, ANF in its course of drug demand reduction programs carried out 230 awareness raising activities against drug abuse and treated 573 drug addicts at its drug treatment centers being run at Islamabad, Karachi and Quetta.
The Secretary was informed about construction of female and juvenile drug treatment ward within existing rehabilitation center Karachi, construction of rehabilitation center Peshawar in collaboration with KP government and establishment of rehabilitation center at Sukkur.
He was also informed about the organizational requirements of ANF with respect to enhancement of manpower, development of infrastructure, increase in number of police stations, acquisition of latest technology and establishment of more drug treatment centers in the country.
The Secretary lauded ANF’s achievements and its role as a specialized force combating trafficking of illicit drugs at national, regional and global level.
He assured his all-out support to ANF for addressing the inadequacies of the force to tackle the menace more vigorously.
