KARACHI, June 26: Speakers at a seminar on Thursday stressed the need for joint efforts to effectively check the spread of narcotics in society.

They were of the view that the masses and the government must join hands to control further spread of the menace, which had become quite rampant.

The seminar on “Do drugs control your life? Your life. Your community. No place for drugs”, organised jointly by the Anti-narcotics Force and a non-governmental organisation, United Nations Association of Pakistan. The event was organised to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

The ANF chief, Brigadier Faiz Burki, said that opium production in a neighbouring country remained a major problem and cultivation increased dramatically in 2006 offsetting remarkable successes made in the elimination of other sources of opium supply, particularly in Southeast Asia.

He said that on its part the ANF had seized 14 tons of a chemical – the single largest quantity seized globally – used in heroin preparation, the earlier record was seven tons seized in Turkey.

Mr Burki said that there were over six million drug addicts in the country and efforts were being made to check the supply routes so that the narcotics influx could be made impossible.

Earlier, Niaz Siddiqui, a police official, said that there were over 200 million drug addicts around the world and efforts were being made to check the supply of drugs from the producers to the market, but as this illegal trade generated huge funds the smugglers continued to supply narcotics by dodging the law-enforcers.

He stressed the need for creating awareness about the hazards of drugs particularly among the youth.

UNAP chief Iqbal Chishti, Fouzia Chishti and Imran Waheed also spoke.

A song urging people to stay away from drugs was also presented.