QUETTA, Jul 22 (APP): Balochistan Governor Jaffar Khan Mandokhel on Tuesday said that the increasing trend of drug use and other harmful substances were of utmost concern. He said that it was the common responsibility of all of us to eliminate the production and increasing use of drugs, joint efforts of the government and the people were needed to deal with this scourge.
He expressed these views while addressing the participants of the drug burning ceremony held at Pegasus Hall in Quetta.
The ceremony was attended by Anti-Narcotics Force Director General Major General Abdul Moeed, NF Balochistan Commandant Brigadier Adnan Danish Khan, Vice Chancellors of Balochistan’s public sector universities, religious scholars and people from different walks of life.
Addressing at the ceremony, the Governor said that education and awareness were important components in the fight against drug use, therefore, effective efforts were necessary to protect the future of our youth and our nation.
He said that unfortunately, drug utilize is spreading the most among the youth and its increasing use is affecting the creativity of our youth and endangering the future builders of the country.
Governor Balochistan Jafar Khan Mandokhel directed that strict measures should be taken against drugs at the level of educational institutions, the heads of educational institutions should keep a close eye on this.
“In this regard, especially the vice chancellors of public sector universities can play a key role which will not only completely end drugs in educational institutions but also save our educational institutions from this scourge”, he said.
The Governor said that nowadays, drugs are easily manufactured in factories, they are very accessible and available at low prices, youth keep them in their pockets, also take them from each other and use them, which needs to be kept under close watch because drugs have brought the whole world to the brink of destruction.
He urged all the concerned institutions to take action against drugs available in the markets and streets and if they are cultivated in remote areas, they should be destroyed immediately.
Jaffar Khan Mandokhel described that the ANF should take concrete steps to eradicate all types of drugs, it is difficult for the government to reach everywhere.
“The full support of the public is essential in these efforts of the government because ending the drug epidemic is the real jihad.
We can further strengthen our network against drugs through mutual consultation and understanding”, he noted.
He said that this was a shared responsibility of all of us, which was becoming a global concern on a large scale, in this regard, the Government of Pakistan was fully committed to fighting the menace of drugs and we were determined to rid our country of this menace.
He said that we were grateful to all our international partners for their cooperation, ANF has played a prominent role in large-scale awareness and community participation programs to educate people about drug use.
At the end of the drug burning ceremony, Governor Balochistan Jafar Khan burned a large quantity of drugs by pressing a button