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LAHORE, Jul 22 (APP):Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has vowed to eliminate drugs from the province and protect the youth from the growing menace of narcotics.
She made these remarks while addressing the inauguration ceremony of the Punjab Counter Narcotics Force (CNF), here on Tuesday.
Speaking at the passing-out parade of CNF, the CM expressed her satisfaction and pride at seeing the enthusiastic and disciplined youth who have joined the newly established force. The future of Punjab and Pakistan appears secure with the formation of this dedicated force, she said. Commending DG CNF Brigadier Mazhar Iqbal, she lauded his efforts in setting up the specialized force in a short period of time.
CM Maryam Nawaz stressed the urgent need to protect Pakistan’s youth, which constitutes 65 percent of the population, from falling victim to drug abuse. “A nation can only harness its youth as a strength if they remain healthy, educated, and free from drugs,” she said, noting the grave concern that drugs have infiltrated streets, neighborhoods, schools, colleges, and universities.
The CM said that one of the most pressing appeals she received from parents was to protect their children from narcotics. She termed the presence of drugs in communities as a national tragedy and stressed that the formation of CNF was inevitable. She said that 12,000 applications were received for recruitment, from which 850 personnel have been selected purely on merit. She congratulated the newly inducted officers and their families, adding that CNF is now operational in all divisions of Punjab and will soon be extended to all districts.
CM Maryam Nawaz also underlined her broader vision of addressing Punjab’s challenges through the creation of specialized institutions. She mentioned the Crime Control Department (CCD) in Punjab Police, which has significantly reduced crime rates across the province in just a few weeks. “Criminals are now surrendering, and crime is visibly declining in many districts,” she said.
She further cited the Punjab Economic Reforms Authority (PERA), already active in Lahore Division, as another example of the government’s swift institutional response to issues such as inflation, hoarding, land encroachments, and mafia activities.
The CM said, “Even a single drug addict in a household becomes a source of immense suffering for the entire family. CNF must ensure that no street, neighborhood, or city in Punjab remains under the shadow of drugs.” She urged CNF personnel to carry out their duties with honesty, courage, and without yielding to any pressure or temptation. “You are not just protecting this generation, you are saving future generations from destruction,” she asserted.
The CM expressed her hope and prayer that the Punjab Counter Narcotics Force would become a source of pride not only for Punjab but for all of Pakistan. She said CNF now shoulders the critical responsibility of steering the province’s youth away from drugs and toward a healthy, productive future.