Daily Times

VIENNA: During the 61st annual meeting on the Commission on Narcotics Drugs (CND), a resolution to stop the usage and supply of drugs in academic institutions has been passed with endorsement from all member countries unanimously, which was presented by the Pakistani delegation led by Federal Secretary for Narcotics Control Iqbal Mahmood.

He was also accompanied by Anti Narcotics Force Director General Major General Mussarat Nawaz Malik on this occasion. While appreciating the support from all the countries, the Narcotics Control secretary stated that this historic resolution would prove as a landmark in the efforts across all the member countries to eliminate drugs from their academic institutions. The preparation and subsequent approval of this resolution resulted due to the untiring efforts from the Ministry of Narcotics Control, ANF and Vienna’s Ministry of Foreign affairs, which has earned pride for the nation. It is pertinent to mention that, other member countries including Belarus, Libya, Nigeria, Paraguay, Philippines, China, Russia, Indonesia and Vietnam have also ensured their cooperative participation keeping in view, the potential positive impact and importance of the Pakistani resolution.

The resolution brought the attention of the international community and particularly UN towards the issue of drug abuse in educational institutions. It was agreed that this problem needs special and immediate interventions at all levels particularly policy initiatives by each country. It demanded concerted efforts and increased coordination amongst law enforcement agencies (LEAs), health and social sector. It will also result in a flow of more support and resources for capacity building of relevant institutions. It also indicated the seriousness and strong political will of Pakistan against the issue.

The approval of this resolution will inject a new life in the already running anti narcotics campaign by ANF in the academic institutions of Pakistan. Most of the member countries of the CND have hailed the efforts put in by the Pakistani delegation to initiate such a resolution against the supply and usage of drugs in academic institutions and termed it as “major diplomatic success”.

The Pakistani society has no place for drugs and so the government has left no stone unturned to stop the supply of narcotics across the country, Iqbal Mahmood said earlier in the session. While mentioning the efforts so far made, the secretary explained that last year, Pakistan had seized 400 tonnes of drugs in various search and found operations across country. Pakistan is an extremely responsible country, and despite of limited capacity and lack of skilled human resources, the country has made remarkable strides against drugs in Pakistan, he added.

Published in Daily Times, March 18^th 2018.