LAHORE, May 20: The Punjab government has decided to reserve 10 beds in psychiatric units of DHQ hospitals and 25 beds in teaching hospitals to treat drug-addicts.

This was stated by chief minister’s adviser on human rights Rana Ijaz Ahmad Khan at a meeting of NGOs working for the rehabilitation of drug-addicts here on Tuesday.

He said the government would monitor and ensure the quality of medical equipments and the standard of treatment facilities being provided in private medical institutions. He said a project had been launched to establish treatment centres in the government and private hospitals in collaboration with the United Nations Drug Control Programme.

Mr Khan said the government would constitute district anti-narcotics committees to educate people about the hazards of drugs.

He said district Nazims had also been asked to play their role in this regard. A separate hospital had also been established in Rahim Yar Khan for free treatment of drug-addict prisoners.

He expressed his concern over the reports that around 1.7 million people were using different types of narcotics to escape mental anxiety and strain.