CM announces Rs50,000 for each rehabilitated drug addict

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtu-nkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Thursday announced Rs50,000 for each individual rehabilitated under the Drug-Free Peshawar campaign and pledged to extend drug rehabilitation treatment across the province by including it in the health card programme.

Speaking as the chief guest at the graduation ceremony of Drug-Free Peshawar marking the completion of the third phase of the campaign, he said the state would take full responsibility for drug addicts, ensuring their treatment and reintegration into society.

“The state is like a mother and will provide rehabilitation to all those struggling with drug addiction across the province,” he said. Urging the public to play their role, he appealed to citizens to report drug peddlers, assuring them of government protection and police action against those supplying drugs.

The Drug-Free Peshawar initiative launched by Commissioner Peshawar Division Riaz Khan Mahsud with the support of the Social Welfare Department has rehabilitated over 3,500 individuals in three phases.

In the first phase, 1,041 people were treated, followed by 1,302 in the second phase and more than 1,250 in the third phase, including over 10 women.Addressing the ceremony, Commissioner Riaz Khan Mahsud, who oversaw all three phases, emphasised that the initiative was not just about treatment but also rehabilitation and reintegration. “We not only rehabilitated these individuals but also provided them with vocational training and employment opportunities in different sector. These people are the ‘Ghazis’ of our society,” he said.

Minister for Social Welfare Syed Qasim Ali Shah expressed his satisfaction at the success of the campaign. “I feel honoured and happy to see these individuals reclaiming their lives. They are not just single individuals, they have families behind them, who suffered alongside them. We will expand this initiative across the province to ensure every individual struggling with addiction receives treatment,” he pledged.

The ceremony attended by government officials and families of drug rehabilitated individuals marked a significant milestone in the province’s fight against drug addiction, with officials reaffirming their commitment to expanding rehabilitation efforts and ensuring long-term support for rehabilitated individuals.