PESHAWAR: The provincial assembly on Tuesday passed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Control of Narcotic Substances Act, 2019, to help control production and use of substances like ice (methamphetamine) for socioeconomic well-being of the people.

Under the new law, a narcotics control wing will be set up under the director general (excise and taxation) to deal with all matters related to narcotic substances.

The new law proposes to establish special courts to try narcotics cases and impose heavy jails and fines for sale, purchase, delivery and distribution of crystal meth, which had been a longstanding demand of law enforcement officials due to its increasing use.

Section 10 (a) of the act proposes seven years imprisonment and Rs300,000 fine for possession of less than 100 grams of methamphetamine, while those found in possession of less than one kilogramme of the same substance would face imprisonment of 10 years and fine up to Rs500,00.

The act proposes death sentence and life imprisonment for possessing crystal meth weighing over one kilogramme and fine up to Rs1 million. The law says that no one shall cultivate any cannabis plant, coca bush or opium poppy.

Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2019