17 February 2004	Tuesday	25 Zilhaj 1424

PESHAWAR, Feb 16: The National Council for Reconciliation of Afghanistan (NCRA) has asked the Karzai government to prepare a comprehensive plan for eradication of poppy crop from the country.

Speaking at a press conference here on Monday, NCRA president Haji Hayatullah proposed that the Afghan government should set up an autonomous commission to deal with drug trafficking.

He said the proposed commission should be empowered to identify root causes of poppy cultivation and expose drug traffickers and their connections with the world mafia.

He said poppy could not be controlled unless the government rehabilitated the agriculture sector and encourage the farming community to grow substitute crops.

He said the United Nations had estimated that Afghanistan would produce 4,000 tons of opium this year which might find its way to the international drug market.

Expressing concern over financial corruption in government institutions, he said Afghanistan received millions of dollars from donors every year for poppy eradication, yet economic infrastructure was still crippling.

The government and donors should ensure proper utilization of funds, he added. He said the central government should disarm people irrespective of their political and linguistic affiliations.