ISLAMABAD - A Senate panel here on Monday recommended to the government for the enhancement of manpower of Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) as well as its budget to make the department more effective and powerful against the menace of narcotics.
Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control gave these recommendations during its meeting that was held at ANF Headquarters, Rawalpindi, under the chair of Senator Talha Mahmood. The panel also stressed to train ANF on modern lines and the provision of modern technology and equipment to it to make the department more effective and increase its efficiency. The committee directed that narcotics business had increased to a dangerous level in the federal capital and ANF as well as Islamabad Police should take strong action angst the people involved in such notorious business.
The Senate body reviewed the performance as well as steps of ANF to control narcotics business in the country while the ANF authorities gave a detailed presentation to the it over the recovery of narcotics and other intoxicant medicines during last one year and the action taken against those people and firms involved in this illegal business.
A committee remarked that the budget of ANF should also be enhanced to fulfil its requirements to take effective action against the powerful mafias involved in the business of narcotics. It instructed all the law enforcement agencies to cooperate with ANF so that it could eliminate the menace of narcotics from the root and young generation could be save from the use of narcotics. It appreciated the performance of ANF despite limited resources and remarked that the department required government’s attention to fulfil its duties more efficiently.
A lawmaker observed that the role of ANF was not only significant at national level but also at international level as well because Pakistan had signed different international conventions and treaties in connection with the control of narcotics. He further said that Pakistani missions abroad should portray a positive picture of ANF for its role in the control of narcotics.
Senator Talha viewed that strong action should be taken against the spread of narcotics in colleges and universities and suggested that modern equipment should be installed at all airports of the country to control its smuggling.
Earlier, Secretary Narcotics Division Akbar Khan Hoti and DG ANF Major General Zafar Iqbal gave a detailed briefing to the committee while the panel assured its full cooperation to improve the performance of the department. Senators Mukhtiar Ahmed Damrah, Col (Retd) Tahir Mushhadi, Pervez Rasheed and Begum Najma Hammed were among the participants of the meeting, besides others.