Daily Times

LAHORE: The Punjab government has failed to overcome the spread of narcotics among the youth of Lahore, as a project titled ‘Drug Free City Lahore’ remained unable to achieve its set objectives and has been declared an unsuccessful intervention.

The Punjab Monitoring and Evaluation director general has recommended probe into the inefficiency, negligence and lack of interest shown by the Punjab Excise and Taxation Department while planning and executing the project.

According to official report compiled by the M&E Department available with Daily Times, in order to check the supply and demand of drugs in the province, and particularly to make Lahore a drug free city, a project titled Drug Free City Lahore was conceived by the Excise and Taxation Department in 2011. The original approved cost of the project was Rs 38.228 million with planned gestation period of 42 months. The project was revised twice and completed in 65 months. The major objectives of the project included reduction of supply and demand of drugs.

Report stated that the project was not included in the Annual Development Programme (ADP) 2010-11, and later, after the lapse of one year only Rs five million were allocated. The scheme remained unfunded till 2013, which showed the department’s lack of interest and needed justification. The cost of the project was reduced from Rs 38.228 million to Rs 20 million without reviewing the activities of the project.

These funds were released in May 2014 but only Rs 3.701 million were spent. The objectives set forth in the PC-I were not achieved, as most of the activities linked to these objectives remained incomplete. The department showed least interest in achieving the project objectives, as it did not complete any activity to achieve objectives set forth in the PC-I.

It was planned that the Ministry of Narcotics Control, in collaboration with the Punjab government, would establish one helpline with a toll free number and five control rooms at SP Offices, but no such helpline was established, the documents revealed.

As per PC-I, the provincial government was to establish a separate 20-bedded ward for drug addicts in each government hospital as well as district and camp jails. The ward was to be manned round the clock by a qualified medical team following international treatment protocols. Provincial Health Department was to depute trained medical staff for detoxification and rehabilitation of drug addicts in respective jail hospitals, but equipment was provided in only three hospitals, while jail hospitals were not given any such support.

It was planned that the project, in coordination with Anti-Narcotics Force, would involve retired government servants, professionals, teachers, and social workers in creating awareness. Each volunteer was to be issued a computer code number along with area of activities, but it was not achieved.

As per PC-I, the skilled development centres were to allocate special seats for addicts in each skilled development programme to facilitate rehabilitation of addicts, but this too was not done.

Recruitment of an accountant, computer operator and drivers was planned to in the original PC-I, while the charge of project coordinator was to be given to the additional secretary.

The cost pertaining to the recruitment, planned in original PC-I, was deleted in second revision. Although the department procured material to create awareness among people, but it could not be verified due to non-provision of pictorial evidence by the department. The furniture and equipment provided to the hospitals was verified by the evaluation team and in this regard an amount of Rs 1.902 million was still pending in the form of liabilities, which was recommended to be decided in upcoming ECM.

After a detailed study and review of the project documents, physical and financial achievements, site visit and interviews with the beneficiaries/officials to determine objectives, the project may be termed as unsuccessful or a failed intervention.