LAHORE, June 26: The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illegal Trafficking was observed on Wednesday with all outdoor activities cancelled due to rain.

All walks and a musical show at the Race Course Park were cancelled, while all indoor activities, mainly seminars, were held to mark the day.

Punjab Law Minister Rana Ejaz Ahmad announced at a seminar that the government had decided to set up treatment and rehabilitation centres in all the district headquarter hospitals for drug-addicts in collaboration with the United Nations.

The Government Hospital for Psychiatric Diseases, Lahore, would be the main centre to look after the affairs of the centres set up in other parts of the country, he said. Rana Ejaz said a centre has already been set up in Rahim Yar Khan for the treatment and rehabilitation of drug-addict prisoners.

He said the federal government has drafted rules for ensuring proper treatment of drug-addicts in rehabilitation centres.

He expressed his concern over the presence of four million drug users in the country. Of them, he said, 2.2 million used heroin and 1.7 million take tranquillizers, he said.

“NGOs, volunteers, teachers, ulema and other responsible people should come forward to create awareness among the people and the youngsters to get rid of the drug menace in the country.”

Punjab Revenue Minister Malik Aslam in a function organized by the National Youth Council for Narcotics urged people from all walks of life, especially mediamen, to play their role to make Pakistan a drug free society.

He said the government was utilizing all available resources for strict implementation of anti-narcotics laws besides building public opinion against the menace.

He said parents and teachers had to make more efforts to save the next generation from drugs.