KARACHI, May 19: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan has emphasised upon gearing up the joint efforts of organisations and community concerned to make Sindh a drug-free province.
Presiding over a high-level meeting at Governor’s House, the governor directed all the organisations associated with the task to work and achieve progress under a joint strategy. He pointed out that the organisations concerned could not do this alone and said that public cooperation and political will could play a cardinal role in this regard.
He also stressed on rehabilitation measures and public awareness drive. In this respect, he issued directive for seeking media cooperation and involving educational institutions, religious leaders and politicians as well in this campaign. Besides, he said that special anti-narcotics programmes should be chalked out for street children.
The meeting decided that anti-narcotic week would be observed throughout the province from June 20-26.
Having an appraisal about measures for rehabilitation of addicts, the governor directed the health minister to set up 10-bed wards in every district hospital for treatment of addicts. The meeting was informed that a 200-bed centre would be established in Malir District Jail. Besides, the establishment of a treatment centre at Super Highway also came under consideration during the meeting.
Stress was also laid to work with better utilisation of manpower and resources available in the provincial excise department while decision was taken for holding seminars, walks, medical camps, programmes in educational institutions and obtain media cooperation besides special weeks for generating greater consciousness and awareness among people.
Anti-Narcotics Force Commander Brig Farooq Shaukat apprised the governor of ongoing awareness programmes, projects and efforts of the ANF. He also highlighted the steps taken to eliminate narcotics trade through sea routes, airports, rail and roads. He said that the ANF registered 138 cases and arrested 144 people during the last year. This year, he said, 67 people had been arrested and 75 cases registered so far.
Brig Farooq informed that the ANF seized 7,181kg narcotics during the last year and 2,776kg this year. These included opium, heroin, alcohol, cannibis and various solvents. Referring to a survey, he said that the number of addicts in Punjab was 242,245; Sindh 162,305; the NWFP 55,707; and Balochistan 39,743.
Ishratul Ibad also directed Rangers and police to provide full cooperation in the efforts against narcotic trafficking and called for more effective action against narcotic dens throughout the province.
He asked the IGP to get a written undertaking from all TPOs and SHOs to the effect that there was no narcotic den in their respective areas. He said that after having this certification, if any information was received about the presence of such dens, strict action would be taken against the responsible police officers.
Senior Excise and Taxation Minister Sardar Ahmed, Home Minister Rauf Siddiqi, Health Minister Shabbir Qaimkhani, City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal, Rangers DG Maj-Gen Javed Zia, Principal Secretary Mohammed Saleem Khan, Home Secretary Brig (Rtd) Ghulam Mohammed Mohtaram, Additional Secretary Javed Hanif, Secretary Excise Mir Hussain Ali and other officials also attended the meeting. —APP
