ISLAMABAD: Director Enforcement, Anti-Narcotics Force North Brigadier Mubashir Hassan Kazmi on Wednesday said formulation of drug prevention policies was essential to fight against this intricate network that offered no exit options to those who entered it.

He said that currently there were no efficient rehabilitation facilities in the country which was alarming because once narcotics use began there was no way out.

Brig Kazmi was speaking at interactive session of the subcommittee of the Senate Standing Committee on Narcotics Control with Comsats faculty members and students.

The subcommittee of the Senate Standing Committee on Narcotics Control was especially formed to visit different educational institutions in Pakistan to gauge the enormity of the problem of drug abuse in Pakistan’s youth and through brainstorming of ideas, formulate a strategy to curb it. While discussing the organisation’s role in curbing drugs on campus, he stressed the need of looking at drug abuse as a social problem that could only be dealt with when society joined hands against this menace.

Speaking on the occasion, convener of the subcommittee, Senator retired Lt Gen Abdul Qayyum said 75pc of drugs supplied to the world were produced in Afghanistan, and unfortunately Pakistan was the gateway.

He said that this had made Pakistan particularly vulnerable and was costing the country its youth.

The convener of the committee asked students to join hands with various institutions fighting against drug abuse in the country and take responsibility as partners against this menace.

He said it was important not only to protect ourselves, but everyone around us.

“This is the only way we can fulfill our responsibility to society and work towards its prosperity,” he added.

Senator Qayyum assured the students that he would work towards strengthening legislation against the spread of drugs in Pakistan and that he would also ensure that everyone responsible for its spread was taken to task.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2019