PESHAWAR, July 16: During an anti-poppy drive in the tribal areas, 160 acres of land have been cleared of the forbidden crop in Salarzai and Barang Tehsils of Bajaur Agency.

The administration involved local communities in the campaign as a result of which poppy cultivation dropped to one half of the 2004-05’s area on 500 acres. The poppy crops area in the year 2005-06 was 250 acres, according to official figures. Special Jirgas of tribal elders and clerics played pivotal role in persuading growers not to cultivate the crop.

To eliminate the menace the government had launched a vigorous drive during the winter this year in three tribal agencies including Bajaur, Mohmand and Khyber and arrested growers in some areas. The levy forces had destroyed standing poppy crops on 709 acres of land in Fata during the current year.

In some areas growers gave undertaking to the authorities not to grow the illicit crops.

Joint teams of the Governor’s Secretariat, provincial Home Department and Anti-Narcotics Force monitored anti-poppy measures in the tribal belt and settled areas.—Online