Police form new unit to make city drug-free

LAHORE: In order to counter the scourge of drugs in Lahore, police have established an specialised unit Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU).

The unit will be comprised of 39 sub-committees and headed by an officer of SP rank. The decision to set up ANU was taken at a conference titled Drugs-Free Lahore organised by the CCPO office on Tuesday.

Speaking on the occasion, CCPO Amin Wains said drugs addiction in youth was increasing at an alarming rate and there was need to take action on emergency basis to counter it.

“The purpose of Drugs-Free Lahore conference is to bring attention towards the issue and bring all the departments concerned at the same page,” he said.

DIG ANF Birgadier Khalid Mehmood said 83% of narcotics were produced in Afghanistan and 40% of it was smuggled through Pakistan.

“The ANF is countering the drug smuggling at borders and destroy huge quantities of narcotics every year,” he said.

Higher Education Punjab DG Dr Nizamuddin said teachers and students were needed to be sensitised the most about narcotics. “The rate at which drugs addiction is increasing at educational institutes is alarming and stern action is needed against it,” he remarked.

It was also decided in the conference that CCPO will conduct monthly meetings with sessions’ judge for progress. Educational institutes and police will coordinate in curbing use of drugs at campus. The ANF and police will also share information and conduct joint operations to bust drug dealers. Excise and taxation department will also coordinate to counter the challenge.

Every sub-committee of the unit will be headed by a circle officer. The ANU will work in coordination with Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), educational institutes, excise and taxation department and sessions judge Lahore. Every circle officer will submit his progress report to SP ANU on a weekly basis. SP ANU will submit his progress report on monthly basis to the CCPO. ANU will be bound to submit challans of FIRs registered against narcotics as early as possible.

Source: The Express Tribune