PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has directed crackdown on drug traffickers throughout the province, and amending the relevant laws to award rigorous punishments to people involved in the illegal trade.

Chairing a meeting here on Friday, he said that it was reprehensible to see surge in drug addiction among the youth, reflecting poorly on efficiency of the police and anti-narcotics force to curb the menace.

Mahmood directed to root out the menace by increasing patrolling on the routes used for drug smuggling. He said that it was collective responsibility of the society to remain vigilant against those who were attempting to destroy future of youth.

Mahmood Khan also directed the authorities to introduce amendments in relevant laws to increase punishments for drug traffickers, saying that proposals in that regard should be finalised and presented in the next cabinet meeting.

The chief minister also directed reactivation of narcotics eradication teams to tighten noose around drug traffickers and effectively carry out intelligence-based operations against them.

The meeting was informed that 1,300 drug addicts had been rehabilitated during the recent drug addicts’ rehabilitation campaign in Peshawar.

It was also told that 987 drug traffickers had been arrested and 7,470 kilogrammes hashish, 834kg heroin, 526kg opium, 245kg crystal meth (ice) and 25,249 litres alcohol had been recovered from them by the excise and narcotics control department during the last four years.

Similarly, 1,500 cases had been registered against persons involved in drug trafficking.

Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2022