ISLAMABAD, June 5: The European Union through the European Commission will provide Rs67 million for combating drugs abuse and HIV/Aids in Pakistan.

The EU will provide the assistance as part of its development cooperation with Pakistan under the National Indicative Plan for the next three years, a press release issued by the EU here on Thursday said.

This programme, called reachout-II, is a continuation of an activity in this field, which started in 2001.

A non-governmental organization, Nai Zindagi, will execute the programme, a nationwide integrated health, HIV prevention and drug demand and harm reduction programme for street drug users in five major cities.

More than 5000 street drug users and related vulnerable groups have benefited from the programme so far.

The new programme is expected to provide services to another 4000 street drugs users in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar regions during a period of 24 months.

The objectives of HIV prevention and “harm minimization” would be achieved through provision of street outreach services, detoxification services, rehabilitation services, family services, aftercare and follow-up, vocational training and by job placement services.

The programme envisages to complement the HIV prevention, drug demand and harm reduction initiatives in Pakistan and is expected to provide technical support to similar programme being implemented in the country.