RAWALPINDI, June 20: Religious scholars can augment efforts of the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) in reducing poppy cultivation by moulding public opinion against the use of drugs in the country and discourage this unhealthy practice.

This was highlighted at the concluding session of a two-day workshop ‘Support of Ulema against poppy cultivation and drug abuse’ organized by the ANF, in collaboration with the Narcotics Affairs section of the US Embassy, Islamabad, at a local hotel here on Wednesday.

The ANF officials acknowledged that during the Taliban regime in Afghanistan poppy cultivation and drug smuggling decreased drastically.

Religious scholars from across the country and renowned teachers, from various colleges of the twin cities, participated in the workshop.

The religious scholars unanimously declared the cultivation of poppy, trading in drugs and use of different drugs “un-Islamic” and termed them “Haram.” They said Islam had prohibited the use and trading of all kinds of drugs and recommended severe punishments for its abuse.

The participants were told that there were over 300,000 mosques, 15,000 madrassas and about 500,000 Ulema who could help the force in reducing the demand of narcotics in the country. The religious scholars, through their weekly sermons, could create awareness and mould public opinion against the use of drugs and highlight the ills of drug addiction.

Elaborating on ANF efforts in curbing drug addiction, director headquarter ANF, Brig (retired) Obaidullah Khan Niazi said two model treatment centres were working in Islamabad and Quetta and more would be established in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Abbotabad.

To treat and rehabilitate about 40,000 street children who were drug addicts, two centres were working in Lahore and Karachi and more would be set up in other cities.

The ANF director said efforts were underway to care for women drug addicts who were three per cent of the total five million addicts’ population in the country.

He further said rehabilitation centres would be set up in jails of provincial capitals in the first stage.

TV plays will also be presented on drug abuse and its negative effects, he added.

The participants recommended urgent remedial measures to cope with the prevalent situation of drug abuse in the country.