PESHAWAR: Experts have expressed concern over the increasing use of drugs in the province and called for measures to scale up awareness about harmful effects of narcotics. Drug’s prevalence had been found in 13 per cent of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa population, highest in the country that warranted urgent measures to save the people, especially youths, who were most vulnerable to the drugs, said Tariq Mahmood of the Dost Welfare Foundation. Speaking at a one-day seminar held by the Anti-Narcotics Force and Dost Welfare Foundation to mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, he said that efforts were afoot to spread awareness regarding ill-effects of drugs in the society and ensure a drug-free society. Tariq Mahmood highlighted role of stakeholders and pledged to continue the joint struggle to reduce demand of drugs and help those affected by it. He stressed focus on prevention and public awareness to end growing trend of drug abuse in the province. “We have been providing treatment and rehabilitation services to over 2,900 addicted children and adults with the support of Social Welfare Department under the project, Sakoon Kore- II Residential Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre in Shahi Bala,” he said. ANF’s Muhammad Aamir Khurshid and Sikandar Alam Khan of the Social Welfare Department also spoke on the occasion. They suggested to the government to establish more such centres.
