KHYBER: Participants of an awareness session about hazards of drug addiction here on Friday stressed the need for collective efforts to eradicate illegal drugs.

The event was organised at the Landi Kotal Press Club which was attended by local government representatives, police officials, traders, civil society activities and youth.

The participants expressed concern about the rising drug addiction among youth and called for a proactive campaign at the hujra level to educate the young generation about the negative impact of the use of narcotics on their health.

They said that heroin and the ice drug were smuggled from Afghanistan to Pakistan in large quantities.

“These drugs are proving deadlier than modern weapons,” a participant said.

The other participants said that restricting the use of ice drug and heroin was the collective responsibility of all segments of the society.

They said law-enforcement agencies were required to enhance their surveillance of the border crossings to check the smuggling of such contraband.

On the occasion, tehsil council chairman Shah Khalid said such awareness sessions would help eliminate illegal drugs.

He urged the local elders and civil society activists to refrain the local youth from falling prey to drug addiction while holding regular awareness sessions to discourage the use of narcotics.

HENS DISTRIBUTED: UK-based philanthropist Javed Khan distributed hens among 31 families in Spin Drand village of Upper Bara on Friday.

His focal person, Tariq Afridi, said the initiative was meant to provide an income generating opportunity to the militancy-affected impoverished families in the area. He said more families would be provided with hens after Eid days.

Mr Javed also distributed stitching machines, solar panels and solar-powered irons among families in Upper Bara under a livelihood programme.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2024