KHYBER: Speakers at a seminar expressed concerns over smuggling of narcotics from Afghanistan into Pakistan despite the claim of ruling Afghan Taliban about its eradication in their country.

The seminar titled ‘Drug addiction is a curse’ was organised by the district press club on Tuesday. It was attended by officials of Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), local bodies’ representatives, students and civil society members.

Rana Kashif, an ANF official, said on the occasion that their force was making every effort to eradicate the menace of drugs abuse. He said that ANF was regularly conducting intelligence-based operations against drug smugglers in different parts of Khyber.

He said that although Afghan Taliban authorities were making tall claims about ban on narcotics in their country, large quantities of different types of illegal drugs including heroin, opium and ice were smuggled to Pakistan from the neighbouring country through various unfrequented routes.

Says large quantities of heroin, opium and ice being smuggled into Pakistan through unfrequented routes

The official said that the ratio of drugs-related deaths was very high throughout the world with Pakistan as no exception because a large number of Pakistanis, mostly youth, were addicted to ice and heroin.

Tehsil chairman Shah Khalid called for effective steps against drug dealers and stopping of its smuggling from across the border. He said that people arrested for their involvement in the illegal trade were released by courts owing to lacunas in legal system.

He said people should excommunicate drug pushers and display their photographs at prominent public places.

Mirajuddin, a former sportsman, called for organising more sporting and entertainment events alongside establishment of sporting facilities to engage youth in healthy activities and keep them away from drugs.

Maulana Sher Haider, a local cleric, termed drug abuse by youth a social menace and called for effective measures to control it.

He said that drug abuse also resulted in criminalising the tribal society as addicts resorted to violence and other anti-social acts while there was no effective check on its sale and purchase.

The participants of the seminar demanded through a unanimous resolution strong and effective legislation against use and trade of all types of illegal drugs throughout the country.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2024