ISLAMABAD, Oct 4: Senate Standing Committee on Narcotics Control has urged the government to allocate more funds to set up more rehabilitation centres for drug addicts in the country.

The committee said there were more then 3.4 million drug addicts in the country and only 75 government and private sector rehabilitation centres were rendering their services. It also suggested separate centres for men and women addicts.

Senate body members said during their visit to the Model Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre, Tarnol.

Talking to the media, committee chairperson Senator Kulsum Perveen said that the Senate body would soon convene a meeting to discuss ways how to effectively control use of narcotics and help drug addicts to come to normal life.

She said that comprehensive strategy and immediate support by the government was needed to get rid of the menace. During the visit she was accompanied by committee members Nisar Memon, Tahira Latif, Jamal Leghari, Israrullah Zaidi and Gul Naseeb.

Senator Parveen said they would discuss the performance of existing treatment centres in the country and come out with recommendations how to enhance and improve facilities at these centres.

The senator said a vigorous campaign, as is done in case of polio eradication, was needed to stop drugs from spreading. “A mass awareness drive would also help to educate the people about the hazardous effects of drugs which not only ruin the life of the addicts but the lives of their family members also.”

She lauded the efforts by the centre organisers for launching a model centre and added that this example must be followed by establishing such centres throughout the country.

Speaking on the occasion, Senator Nisar Memon said that if required a law would be made to control drugs and the government could also approach international community in this regard.

Senator Tahira Latif stressed the need for providing technical education to the people recovering from drug addiction. She said they must be provided soft loans to run their business after they are discharged from the treatment centres.

Brig Tahir Saleem, force commander of Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) Rawalpindi, and Project Manager Bushra Hassan also spoke on the occasion.

Earlier, Force Commandant Anti Narcotics Force Rawalpindi Brig Tariq Saleem briefed the delegation about the functioning of the centre.