LAHORE: Provincial Minister for Counter Terrorism department Lt. Col. (R) Sardar Muhammad Ayub Khan on Wednesday said that Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) was striving hard for the elimination of elements involved in the menace of narcotics in spite of its limited resources and less force.
He said this while addressing an annual drug burning ceremony held here under the aegis of Anti Narcotic Force Punjab.
The minister said that efforts were being made to reduce the use of drugs by creating awareness in this regard. He said the drugs burned today were have to be smuggled out from the country or to be used with in the country, adding that these drugs were seized with efforts of ANF and other law enforcing agencies. “World acknowledges Pakistan’s efforts against drugs and we also hope for full cooperation from other countries in this regard,” he added.
The minister also visited various stalls which were set up for creating awareness among the masses regarding drugs. It is pertinent to mention here that this year the quantity of various burned drugs were as heroin 445.976 kg, charas 5613 kg, opium 155.680 kg, liquor 50407 litres, morphine injections 35893 and others. Besides this ANF registered 312 cases against the drug smugglers and also arrested 354 persons.
ANF Director General Punjab Brig. Khalid Mehmood Goraya also spoke on the occasion. A large number of students, representatives of various NGOs and other officials participated in the ceremony.