LAHORE: The Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) has conducted a first-ever narcotics substances profiling and found that the manufacturers are adding adulterants to make the drugs dangerous but comparatively cheaper to create its omnipresence in society.

The PFSA has conducted the drug profiling exercise on wide variety of narcotics – charas, bhang, opium, bhukki (poast), heroine and the emerging drugs in recent years such as MDMA (ecstasy tablets), cocaine and ketamine, which it had received from various law enforcement authorities for forensic analysis.

The agency on the instructions of the Punjab home department conducted drug profiling to find out the nature of these adulterants and to follow the source of companies selling these materials to drug dealers.

In its research on the samples of Charas, Opium, Bhukki (Poast), Heroin, MDMA (Ecstacy), Cocaine and Ketamine, the agency found presence of Lidocaine, Diazepam, Chlorpheniramine, Metronidazole, Chloroquine, Pheniramine, Acetaminophen, Diclofenac, Doxepin, Dextromethorphan, Viagra, Pregabalin, Methamphetamine etc as a single component or a combination of two

adulterants to a mixture of several

adulterants in one drug.

Home Secretary Noorul Amin Mengal has directed the PFSA to write to the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan, the Anti-Narcotic Force, Excise Taxation and Narcotics Control Department, Punjab, and the inspector general of police of Punjab to take necessary action to restrict and watch the availability of the adulterants.

The agency has also been directed to write to the IGP to invite its crime scene investigators, when seizing a drug-manufacturing factory.

SCIENCE ENCLAVE: The home department has also moved a summary to the chief minister requesting establishment of the “Punjab Science Enclave”, which has initially been approved by the seventh board meeting of the Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority (PAFDA).

The authority’s board meeting had unanimously approved the proposal to name the premises, which include PAFDA, PFSA and the Centre for Forensic Sciences (Training Lab), as the Punjab Science Enclave.

The home department has also submitted a proposal that the Centre for Forensic Sciences (Training Lab) be renamed as “Dr Muhammad Ashraf Tahir Forensic Sciences (Training Lab)” in recognition of his distinguished and dedicated work.

Both the proposals have been submitted for the chief minister’s nod and placing before the provincial cabinet for consideration.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2025