Staff Reporter Islamabad
Director General Anti Narcotics Force (ANF), Major General Muhammad Arif Malik, HI(M) has said that Pakistan is facing multiple serious challenges due to the huge production of opiates, cannabis and synthetic drugs in Afghanistan.
Our proximity to the world’s epicenter of illicit drugs places us in a vulnerable position to be exploited not only as an easily accessible drug market but also as a transit corridor for narcotics trafficking to other parts of the world.
In his message on International Day Against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking, the DG ANF said that Pakistan has consequently become the primary target, victim and transit country of illicit drugs produced elsewhere.
To add to our challenges, the modern synthetic drugs and cocaine have also found their way into Pakistan.
This led to increased local consumption, rising addicts population, insufficient treatment and rehabilitation facilities, escalated pressure on law enforcement apparatus and other negative fall outs on our society, especially on the youth.
Major General Muhammad Arif Malik said that being fully cognizant of the magnitude of the threat and its related multifarious/complex challenges, Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) Pakistan, being the premier drug law enforcement agency, is fully committed to accomplish its tasks.
ANF is extensively involved in disruption of drug supplies into Pakistan, arresting the drug traffickers and bringing them to justice.
He said that the ANF is also leading the national drug demand reduction efforts and imparting wide range of efforts for awareness of our population against harmful effects of drug abuse.
On International Day against Drugs 2021, we feel proud in reporting that Pakistan is one of the leaders in international counter narcotics efforts and we are taken as a model of success in terms of controlling illicit drug cultivation and production. As, Pakistan holds the status of ‘Poppy Free Country’ since 2001.
No Opiates or any other type of drugs are produced on the soil of Pakistan due to the consistent efforts of ANF and other stakeholders.
The DG said that the ANF, in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies and international partners, is endeavouring hard to combat the menace of drugs through optimum use of available resources and expertise.
Despite COVID-19 pandemic, Pakistan affected unprecedented seizure of 495 metric ton of various types of drugs in the year 2020 through an inclusive and comprehensive strategy, which is being appreciated globally.
He said that drug abuse is an international problem and all countries and other international entities should make collective effort for its control.
We would request our citizens, particularly the youth, to help ANF in our drug control efforts. Their support is a must to embark against the spread of this menace in the society.
