DERA GHAZI KHAN, May 12: Registered opium addicts have been suffering at the hands of local excise department’s negligence in dispensing opium pills.

Dawn learnt on Thursday that there were 112 registered opium addicts in the district. They were registered in Gen Zia’s rule when he imposed ban on sale of opium in the open market.

The excise department was authorized to dispense opium pills to those registered all over the country. The Lahore opium factory supplies these pills to the excise departments according to their monthly demand.

An addict waiting for his turn outside the department told this correspondent that an addict required at least 30 tablets a month. However, he said, the excise authorities gave each addict a maximum of 22. “We have to sign on the licence and department’s register for 30 tablets,” he complained.

He said it was difficult for us to utilize these pills to satiate ourselves.

Another addict alleged the department sold opium pills in black market to those who were not registered.

When contacted, department’s distribution clerk denied allegations. He claimed the department had written several time to the director general for the increase in quota, regretting the authorities were not paying due heed.

Only 2,500 tablets were being dispensed against the demand of 6,720.

It was learnt opium tablets were being sold in the black market with the connivance of the officials deputed for dispensing.

Doctors claim opium is the mother of heroin and its addiction was a life long ill.