Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi on Wednesday stressed the need for chalking out a comprehensive strategy to deal with the consumption of narcotics, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

In his message on World Drug Day, the minister said that Pakistan had been confronting the issues arising from the use of narcotics for a long time now such as violence, crimes and deterioration in the person’s health. “Realizing the gravity of the situation, the government is taking concrete steps under the National Anti-Narcotics Policy to stop the use and smuggling of drugs,” he said, adding, “Making the war against narcotics a priority is inevitable given their devastating effects on a society.”

Naqvi was of the view that the war could not produce the desired results unless the nation made coordinated efforts to get rid of the menace. “What is required is making joint efforts against the scourge so that Pakistan could become a narcotics-free country and a healthy society could come into being,” he asserted.  

Praising the anti-narcotics force (ANF) and other concerned departments for launching a crackdown on the people involved in the sale and purchase as well as smuggling of drugs, the minister said they all were doing a great job. “The truth of the matter is that the ANF personnel and officers have even laid down their lives in order to make Pakistan a narcotics-free country,” Naqvi said, adding, “Today we salute the martyrs of ANF. It’s a time to pay rich tributes to them.”

Reporter: Awais Kiani