April 05, 2008	Saturday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 27, 1429

MUZAFFARGARH, April 4: A cycle rally has set out its journey from Muzaffargarh to Islamabad via Multan, Sahiwal and Lahore with sole object of raising awareness about the perils of drugs in society.

The rally, which consists of six cyclists, left the starting point at District Council Hall amid the cheers of scores of cycling fans, district government officials, Pakistan People’s Party MNA Jamshed Dasti and MPA Irshad Sial.

The Missali Public School has sponsored the event.

Sheikh Jameel Ahmad, school principal, said he had been arranging such rallies for the last 16 years. He said he arranged the event not only to revive the dying sport but also to motivate the youths to go for positive and healthy activities instead of turning to drugs. He said he had donated two parks to the people of Khangarh.

District Coordination Officer Dr Akhtar Nazir Warraich said he appreciated the effort by the cyclists to take up the cycling tour for a positive objective.

Muzaffargarh has been plagued by the menace of drugs for the last three decades but the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) has never taken any measure to raise awareness about the hazards of drugs among the youngsters. Union Council Wan Pitafi is called Sohrab Goth of Muzaffargarh as it is hub of drugs like opium, chars and heroin.

There is no any governmental rehabilitation centre for addicts here. A few non-governmental organisations have set up their treatment centres but they have failed to bring about any visible change here.