Staff Reporter
Peshawar
Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan Thursday directed the Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control department to take concrete measures to discourage the use of narcotics in order to protect youth from drugs addiction. He also directed the quarters concerned for early vetting of rules drafted under Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Control of Narcotics Bill 2019.
The CM issued these directives while chairing a meeting of Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Department to review the progress and other reforms initiatives undertaken by the department. Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Excise Ghazan Jamal, Secretary Excise Islam Zeb, Director General Excise Fayyaz Ali Shah and others attended the meeting.
The chair expressed satisfaction over the progress made so far. However, he directed the authorities concerned to adopt realistic timelines for the implementation of reforms initiatives being undertaken by the department. Mahmood Khan, on the occasion, said that use of narcotics can be reduced upto considerable extent by controlling narcotics production industries and its supply. The chief minister also directed the authorities to take steps for the rehabilitation of drug addicts.
Earlier, while briefing the meeting about progress, it was told that during the last fiscal year a total of Rs 2917.144 million taxes had been collected while during the last five months of current financial year a total of Rs1335.56 million had been collected. Similarly, during the last two years excise department seized 2288 kg Hashish, 272.50 kg Heroin, 318.30 kg Opium, 9.48 kg Ice and 24497.50 liters alcohol adding that during the said period 355 accused had also been arrested.
Moreover, a huge quantity of narcotics including Hashish, Opium and Ice had been seized since July this year adding that 89 vehicles had been confiscated so far. Briefing about the reforms initiatives of the department, it was informed that GIS based survey was underway in Peshawar.
