PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Afridi on Thursday reaffirmed his government’s commitment to eradicating all forms of narcotics from the province.
He also ordered effective and result-oriented actions against drug suppliers and manufacturers, saying elimination of drugs is one of his government’s foremost priorities.
The chief minister was speaking during a meeting of the excise, taxation and narcotics control department at the Chief Minister’s House here, according to an official statement.
Mr Afridi emphasised that protecting the youth from the menace was a collective responsibility which required concrete, coordinated and outcome-driven measures and warned that negligence or delay in that respect would not be tolerated.
Calls for formation of joint task force to carry out coordinated operations
“Eradication of drugs is essential to safeguard the younger generation from destruction,” he said, seeking a comprehensive and integrated strategy to crack down on those involved in drugs production and trafficking.
The chief minister called for the formation of a joint task force comprising all relevant departments and agencies to conduct coordinated operations across the province.
Mr Afridi said that while actions against sleeper cells were important, the primary target should be the major suppliers and dealers, to dismantle the entire network.
Reiterating the government’s zero-tolerance policy towards narcotics, he said that all operations should be based on verified facts and evidence, ensuring no individual was harassed without cause and at the same time underscored the urgent destruction of seized drugs, so that the drugs never re-enter the market.
The chief minister approved a proposed Rs550 million plan to strengthen the Narcotics Control Wing and align it with modern requirements. The plan includes the procurement of X-ray scanners, firearms, body-worn cameras, dash cameras, advanced communication devices and other IT equipment, along with the establishment of an integrated monitoring system and training programs.
The chief minister said that the government would provide all required resources to the department but expected tangible and lasting results in return.
He ordered immediate implementation of the policy for the retrieval of official vehicles from unauthorised and retired officers and warned that legal action would be taken against anyone obstructing or failing to cooperate in this process.
During the briefing, the chief minister was informed about the department’s revenue collection, anti-narcotics operations, reform initiatives and development projects.
Officials said that for the fiscal year 2024-25, the tax collection target was Rs5.692 billion, while Rs7.041 billion was actually recovered, which was 23.7 per cent higher than the target.
A comparative analysis showed that during the first four months (July-October) of the previous fiscal year, Rs1.867 billion in taxes were collected, compared to Rs2.478 billion during the same period this year, marking a 32.73 per cent increase.
It was also reported that between January and November 2025, a total of 265 cases were registered and 276 individuals arrested in anti-narcotics operations. Since Oct 2019, more than 1,000 confiscated vehicles have been auctioned, generating Rs262 million in revenue.
The meeting was further briefed on key reforms, including profiling of 237,000 non-duty-paid vehicles in Malakand Division and the merged districts, the activation of an e-payment system, the final stages of online vehicle registration, and progress on GIS mapping which has been completed in Abbottabad and Nowshera and is ongoing in Mardan, Kohat, Bannu and Peshawar. Also, the GIS mapping will soon be initiated in Haripur, Mansehra, Swabi, and Charsadda.
Regarding public facilitation, it was informed that 1,110 complaints were received through online portals and all were resolved. In addition, a “public day” is held every Tuesday at the excise secretary’s office to address public grievances directly.
Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2025