ISLAMABAD: Lack of support from the finance department and the suspension of funding by the US government has almost crippled the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), a parliamentary committee was told on Wednesday.

ANF Secretary Iqbal Mehmood told the National Assembly Standing Committee on Narcotics Control that the Rs2.5 billion provided by the government for the fiscal year 2017-18 is only enough to meet routine expenses.

“All three of our helicopters are grounded and require major overhauling which will require more Rs300 million,” Mr Iqbal said.

The Rs2.5 billion provided to the force for this year will only cover routine expenses, parliamentary body told

The senior official said that among the other issues being faced by the force, another big problem is the shortage of manpower. He told the committee that the ANF only has 3,000 personnel for deployment at international and local airports, sea ports and other locations across the country.

The government has also stopped providing money from its secret fund which was utilised to ensure the security and safety of informers and keeping their identities confidential, he said.

Responding to questions from committee members on public awareness campaigns, ANF Director General Maj Gen Mussarat Malik said the Pakistan Electronics and Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has politely declined to assist his office in spreading public message via media campaigns.

He told the committee that his office had requested Pemra to air messages such as ‘Say No To Drugs’ and read out Pemra’s response in which the regulatory authority had conveyed that the law did not bind private TV channels to air public messages free of charge.

The meeting was also informed that the Narcotics Division in the interior ministry was working on launching a campaign for discouraging the increasing trend of drug use in educational institutions.

Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed said his office is aware of the problem.

“There is a zero tolerance for drug use and we have strict notification against its use. The HEC is cooperating with the Narcotics Division in assisting in discouraging drug use in educational institutions,” he said.

ANF Secretary Iqbal Mahmood said teachers and parents are being involved in awareness campaigns.

“We have been asking them to keep an eye on children’s behaviour for signs of drug use such as if their grades are suffering or if they isolate themselves. Public awareness messages are being aired via radio channels,” he said.

The committee said it will request the government to provide funding to help the ANF function efficiently.

Published in Dawn, March 1st, 2018