Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) Director General Major General Musarrat Nawaz Malik on Tuesday said the menace of drugs is one of the most damaging and life crippling threat for society and ANF is striving for its absolute elimination to achieve the goal of a drug free society.

He claimed that ANF was vigorously executing its assigned tasks with utmost dedication and determination. The director general expressed these views while addressing the Drug Burning Ceremony 2018 organised by ANF.

ANF Secretary Captain (r) Arif Nawaz Khan graced the occasion as chief guest. Other prominent participants included foreign dignitaries, officials of law enforcement agencies, high ranking military and civil officials, international partners on drug control, non-governmental organisations, civil society, sports organisations, celebrities, media persons and students from different educational institutions. ANF DG Major Musarrat Nawaz Malik welcomed the honourable guests.

The DG apprised that 403.882 kilogrammes of narcotics were being burnt in Islamabad on Tuesday, however, this year, ANF burnt a total of 168.148 metric tonnes of drugs worth $673.115 million including recent drug burning ceremonies at Peshawar and Quetta. The ANF DG informed that ANF is continuously launching anti-drug drives in major cities, with special focus on educational institutions.

While presenting a brief account of professional performance of ANF, the DG apprised that during 2018, ANF registered 902 cases, arrested 1,077 persons involved in drug trafficking while seizing 4,143.960 kg opium, 1,572 kg morphine, 3,481.242 kg heroin, 4,5120.438 kg hashish, 2.492 kg cocaine, 1,621.349 kg amphetamine, 45.673 kg methamphetamine, 1.543 kg ecstasy tablets, 92.370 kg Xanax tablets, 71.400 kg Pranax tablets, 57.027 kg cannabis, eight kg poppy straw and precursor chemical comprising 4,283 litre acetic anhydride, 3,700 litre sulfuric acid, 450 litre hydrochloric acid, 6,977 litre acetone, 114 litre ketamine and 65 kg crystals.

Major General Musarrat Nawaz Malik told the participants that during the year 2018, out of 898 arrested accused, 830 were given punishments, hence making 95 percent successful conviction rate. Further, this year ANF has frozen assets worth Rs 39.265 million.

The ANF DG added that this year, ANF has undertaken 331 drug abuse prevention and awareness raising activities throughout the country. Talking about drug treatment facilities, he apprised that ANF has provided free drug treatment to 914 drug addicts at its drug treatment centres in the year 2018. He also highlighted the up-gradation of ANF Balochistan in respect of deployment, intelligence ability, technical capability and mobility with special focus on Gwadar in view of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor.

He added that Pakistan is a poppy free country since 2001 but the region produces over 90 percent of the world’s opiates which puts Pakistan in double jeopardy of being a victim as well as a transit country. The recent inauguration of China-Pakistan Joint Border Liaison Office at Sost Border is a great achievement which will help both the countries in countering border smuggling and sharing of experiences between the countries.

Addressing the occasion, Captain (r) Arif Nawaz Khan stated that Pakistan is facing both internal and external threats and under such circumstances, drug crime is badly affecting our society. Hence, it is mandatory to tackle this menace with iron hands.

“The ANF is rendering extraordinary endeavours to counter drug trafficking at national and international level,” he said.

The secretary lauded ANF’s achievements and its role as a specialised force in combating trafficking of illicit drugs at national, regional and global level.

He assured his all-out support to ANF for addressing the inadequacies of the force to tackle the menace more vigorously.

In the end, Musarrat Nawaz Malik thanked all the honourable guests with the determination of making the country, region, continent and the world completely free from drugs.

Published in Daily Times, October 24^th 2018.