ISLAMABAD, April 19: Pakistan played a key role in adoption of a resolution regarding assistance to developing countries for controlling drug smuggling and production in the international conference on drug control in Austria, Interior and Narcotics Control Minister Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat said on Saturday.

Upon his return from Vienna after attending the ministerial session of the International Conference on Control of Drugs Smuggling, held on April 17 and 18, the minister said the resolution was cosponsored by Pakistan.

He said the house welcomed Pakistan‘s initiative of inviting international assistance in controlling drugs smuggling from Afghanistan.

The minister said he had called for immediate attention of the world community to the issue. The initiative was adopted in the joint declaration, he said.

According to a press release, the minister met the interior and narcotics control minister of Turkey, health minister of Indonesia, deputy foreign minister of Russia and head of public security of Austria.

Mr Hayat said delegations would soon be exchanged with Austria to discuss the technical and operation modalities for cooperation in training of law enforcement personnel, drug control regimes and other fields.

The Russian deputy foreign minister said the two countries had moved closer on internal security, drugs control and political issues.

The interior minister of Turkey expressed his resolve to strengthen the bilateral relations.

During the session, the chairman of the Organization for Drugs Control appreciated Pakistan‘s efforts for curbing narcotics smuggling locally and internationally.

The minister also met the director general of International Narcotics Control Board of the United Nations.