Punjab Home Secretary Dr. Ahmad Javed Qazi on Friday reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to building a healthy, peaceful and harmonious society by intensifying efforts against narcotics, saying protecting the younger generation from drug abuse remained a shared national mission.
Punjab Home Secretary, CNF DG reaffirm commitment to drug-free society
LAHORE, Aug 07 (APP): Punjab Home Secretary Dr. Ahmad Javed Qazi on Friday reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to building a healthy, peaceful and harmonious society by intensifying efforts against narcotics, saying protecting the younger generation from drug abuse remained a shared national mission.
He expressed these views during a meeting with Punjab Counter Narcotics Force (CNF) Director General (DG) Brigadier Mazhar Iqbal at the Home Department.
According to a spokesperson for the Punjab Home Department, the Home secretary said the department was running awareness campaigns to prevent drug abuse and highlighted that the Control of Narcotic Substances Act, 1997 and the Drugs Act, 1976 classify the manufacture, possession, distribution and trafficking of narcotics as serious offences.
Dr. Qazi said Punjab had strict anti-narcotics laws under which offenders could face imprisonment of up to 25 years along with heavy fines.
He added that the harshest penalties were being imposed for the use or sale of drugs in and around educational institutions.
He said more than 21,000 prisoners in Punjab’s jails were incarcerated for offences related to the use, possession or trafficking of narcotics.
The secretary further said the Punjab government had engaged respected members of society, including religious scholars and prayer leaders, in its anti-drug campaign.
He added that around 70,000 registered imams across Punjab were spreading awareness about the dangers of narcotics through Friday sermons and religious lectures.
He stressed that making society drug-free and protecting future generations was a collective responsibility.
Speaking on the occasion, CNF DG Brig. Mazhar Iqbal said the force had recruited special prosecutors to ensure effective prosecution of narcotics-related cases.
He reiterated that a drug-free, healthy and secure Punjab was the CNF’s ultimate goal.
He urged citizens to report any suspicious narcotics-related activities in their surroundings to the Punjab CNF helpline 1012.
Special Secretary Home Zainab Khan, Additional Secretary (Internal Security) Javeria Maqbool, Major Furqan and other relevant officials also attended the meeting.
