Detailed briefing on drug eradication
Adnan Athar
(Karachi) An important meeting of the third High Power Monitoring Committee was held in the office of DG Narcotics Control Sindh under the chairmanship of Provincial Minister for Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control, Mukesh Kumar Chawla.
On the occasion, Secretary ET&NC Muhammad Saleem Rajput, Secretary Social Welfare Pervaiz Ali Sehar, Director General Narcotics Control Sindh Aurangzeb Panhwar, Regional Director Anti-Narcotics Force Brigadier Umar Farooq, Director Academic Sindh Higher Education Commission Khalid Hussain Mehar, Senior Member United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes Sajid Aslam, Additional Director Customs Basit Hussain, DIG CIA Muqaddas Haider, representatives of the Department of School Education, College Education, Universities and Boards and related departments were also present.
The Provincial Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla was given a detailed briefing on drug eradication and prevention by all the departments participating in the meeting and possible measures were considered.
Regional Director ANF Brigadier Umar Farooq briefed Provincial Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla about how drug peddlers have innovated traditional methods of smuggling. He said that drug peddlers are smuggling drugs through soap, shampoo, clothes, e-cigarettes (vapes), medical gloves, chocolates, beverages, car air-conditioner compressors, travel bags and other items, including food items.
DIG CIA Muqaddas Haider said that this year, Sindh Police has arrested more than 13,000 suspects in more than 10,000 raids on drug peddlers’ hideouts and registered more than 11,500 cases, while more than 122 kilograms of ice crystals, 54 kilograms of heroin, more than 8,500 kilograms of hashish, 105 kilograms of opium and more than 32,000 liters of local liquor have been recovered from the possession of drug peddlers.
Education department officials said that they have informed the heads of all public and private educational institutions about drug trafficking and preventing students from drug use, after which special attention is being paid to educational institutions, especially non-teaching staff, while some individuals have also been arrested from various educational institutions.
Provincial Minister for Excise, Taxarion and Narcotics Control Sindh Mukesh Kumar Chawla appreciated the performance of all the relevant departments participating in the meeting and said that you are all doing a good job, however, we will have to take more concrete steps to eliminate drugs and prevent its spread.
Provincial Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla directed to launch a vigorous media campaign for public awareness regarding drug prevention. He said that the surveillance system should be enhanced in the border areas of the province and a data sharing system should be established between all the relevant departments related to anti-drug operations.
He also directed to compile data of all private rehabilitation centers established for drug addicts and formulate a comprehensive policy and hold monthly meeting for timely steps related to drug prevention.
