Drug addiction kills more people than terrorism in Pakistan

Pakistani officials of the Anti-Narcotic Control Force burn seized drugs and liquor, in Peshawar, Pakistan, Thursday, April 23, 2015. Pakistan is taking strict measures to stop drug trafficking from neighboring Afghanistan and Pakistani tribal areas. (AP Photo)

According to the information reported to the Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control on Monday, around seven million people in Pakistan are drug addicts, while 700 people die every day in the country due to drug-related impediments.

Briefing the committee about steps undertaken by Narcotics Control Division for the welfare of addicts, Director General of the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), Maj. Gen Khawar Hanif said out of the estimated seven million drug addicts in Pakistan, three million are those who use medicines without prescription.

He said drug-related deaths were greater than those caused by terrorism— the latter kills 39 each day compared to the 700 deaths from drug addiction every day.

The committee was elucidated that Pakistan had been declared a “poppy-free” country since 2011 but poppy cultivation area in Afghanistan has increased from 7,000 hectors to 225,000 hectors.

ANF has four hospitals to rehabilitate addicts, while another is being established in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa. Of the 33 approved ANF police stations, 28 are active.

The ANF DG lamented that his team did not receive any direct funding from other sources, which resulted in complete dependence on the ministry of finance. Major problems plaguing the ANF concern equipment and accommodation.

“But Saudi Arabia provided us with scanners that were installed at Wagha border and negotiations are ongoing with China for provision of equipment,” he said.

He said 106 drug gangs, including 13 international gangs, had been busted this year with drug confiscations amounting to Rs550 million. Around 344 people have been prosecuted in 2015, while 426 were prosecuted in 2014; 540 in 2013 and 552 in 2012.

After the briefing, the Senate committee chief, Rehman Malik, said all television channels should devote a small percent of air time to raise awareness on damage caused by drug addiction, as drug business had a serious role in promoting terrorism too. While Secretary Narcotics Control Muhammad Ghalib Ali was of the opinion that there was no nexus between terrorism and drug cartels in Pakistan, adding that the government had framed various laws to curb the menace of drug trafficking.