Minister seeks business community’s support for Rehabilitation Centers

Lt. Gen Retd.  Salahuddin Tirmizi, Federal Minister for Narcotics Control visited Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and said that business community should cooperate in strengthening the Rehabilitation Centers for early rehabilitation of drugs addicts.

He said there were over 6.7 million drugs addicts in Pakistan and narcotics control law was being reviewed to cope with this problem more effectively. Diplomats including Ambassadors and High Commissioners of Britain, Germany, Spain, Japan, Bosnia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tunis, Philippines and Nigeria also attended the meeting and asked many questions to the Hon’ble Federal Minister.

Lt. Gen Retd.  Salahuddin Tirmizi said that poppy cultivation has been eliminated from Pakistan while 80 percent poppy was being cultivated in Afghanistan. He said the fencing of 2600 KMs Pak-Afghan border was in process that would help in overcoming narcotics and illegal drugs in Pakistan. He said lack of manpower and equipment in Anti-Narcotics Force was major hurdle in controlling this issue and government has been asked to provide more funds and manpower. He said illegal drugs business offered highest returns throughout the world and called upon the international community to support Pakistan with technology and equipment for overcoming narcotics and illegal drugs. He said business community was playing vital role in the economic development of the country and it should also cooperate in strengthening drugs addicts Rehabilitation Centers in Pakistan.

Speaking at the occasion, Khalid Iqbal Malik, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that youth was becoming drug addicts and government should deploy more anti-narcotics force in educational institutions to control this critical issue. He said drug addiction entailed huge economic cost for families and government should pay priority attention to cope with this problem. He stressed that massive awareness campaign should be launched through mass media and through schools, colleges and universities to educate the youth about the ill effects of narcotics and drugs. He assured that ICCI would cooperate with Ministry of Narcotics Control in organizing awareness seminars  

Khalid Malik, Senior Vice President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry welcomed the Federal Minister for Narcotics Control and diplomats and stressed that effective measures should be taken to save the youth use illegal drugs. Tahir Ayub, Vice President ICCI in his vote of thanks said that close cooperation between ICCI and Ministry of Narcotics Control was needed to make Islamabad drugs free city. M. Ejaz Abbasi, Sheikh Pervaiz Ahmed, Khalid Chaudhry, Saeed Bhatti, Musharraf Janjua and diplomats of various countries also spoke at the occasion.