Staff Reporter
Islamabad
The Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) organized Central Drug Burning Ceremony at DHA Valley, Islamabad on Monday. Mr. Muhammad Azam Khan Swati Federal Minister of Narcotics Control graced the occasion as Chief Guest.
Prominent participants included Federal Secretary Ministry of Narcotics Control, DG ANF Pakistan, foreign dignitaries, officials of law enforcement agencies, high ranking military and civil administration officials, heads of academic institutions, International Partners on Drug Control, NGOs, civil society, sports organization, celebrities, sports star, media persons and students from different educational institutions.
Addressing the ceremony, Director General ANF Major General Muhammad Arif Malik,HI(M) said that menace of narcotics is not only a curse, bit is one of the most damaging and life threatening feature for humanity and highlighted that no signal country or organization can fight against drugs independently, it is a shared responsibility both at global and domestic level.
He said that this region produces over 90% of the world’s opiates which puts Pakistan in double jeopardy of being a victim as well as a transit country due to efforts of ANF Pakistan is enjoying status of poppy Free State since 2001 as per standers of UNODC. This aspect has between greatly admitted at various International Forums.
DG ANF stated that this year ANF has launched Nation Wide “Anti Drug Campaigns” in various cities, with special focus on the Educational Institutions. ANF is striving for its absolute elimination to achieve the goal of “Drug Free Society” and vigorously executing its assigned tasks with utmost dedication and determination.
He further added, ANF is a leading Anti Narcotics Law Enforcement Agency of Pakistan through small in size, yet it executes the assigned mission with full commitment addiction and conviction. ANF has been playing a leading role in mass awareness and community participation programme to educate the people against drug abuse.
Total drugs burnt during the ceremony is 9.487 ton with approx price of 6.277 million US dollars. The burnt drugs included 536.625 kg Heroine, 5683.934 kg charas, 356.259 kg opium, 88.713 kg amphetamine, 17.032 kg methamphetamine, 5.636 kg Xanax Tabs and 2805.340 kg other different kinds of drugs.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Guest, Mr. Muhammad Azam Khan Swati Federal Minister for Narcotics Control stated that Pakistan is facing both internal and external threats and under such circumstances, drug crime is badly affecting our society. Hence it is mandatory to tackle this menace with Irion hands. He added that National Anti Narcotics Policy promulgated in Feb 2019, takes into account the global and regional narcotics drugs environments, the issue of drug smuggling and illicit diversion of precursor chemicals.
Azam Swati lauded ANF’s achievements and its role as a specialized force in combating trafficking of illicit drugs at national, regional and global level. ANF is rendering extraordinary endeavors to counter drug trafficking at national and international level. He added that Law Enforcement Agencies alone, cannot effectively counter the deadly.
