ANF, UNODC hold seminar on narcotics control

Islamabad
The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) held the Regional Counter Narcotics Seminar here on Tuesday.
Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control Baleegh-ur-Rahman was the chief guest on the occasion. The seminar was addressed by Minister of State for Health Saira Afzal Tarar, Secretary Narcotics Control Division Ghalib Ali Bandesha, Country Representative of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Cesar Guedes, Anti-Narcotics Force Director General Major General Khawar Hanif, Saud Mirza, Brigadier (r) Mowadat Rana and senior journalist Syed Talat Hussain.
Significant attendants included delegates from different countries, diplomatic community, international organisations, LEA officials, public representatives, associations/NGOs and media persons.
The event was marked as the first-ever inaugural session of the drug affected countries along the trafficking route in the region. It aimed to highlight the ills of drug trafficking and its fallout on society, significant of which is transformation of transit states into victim countries. In the seminar, emphasis was paid on the narcotics menace in the region, drug challenges and counter measures, capacity building of anti-drug setups by UNODC, measures to improve drug enforcement, role of media in awareness campaigns, ill-effects of addiction & treatment and negative/psychiatric problems of addicts.
While addressing on the occasion, Baleeqh-ur-Rahman highlighted the counter narcotics efforts and achievements made by Pakistan. He emphasised on the commitment of Pakistan to stand along the international community in fight against drugs.
Cesar Guedes reaffirmed UNODC's support in capacity-building of drug related LEAs and provided key role for improving international cooperation across the globe. He emphasised on the drug problem as a shared responsibility, for which UNODC being lead international organisation would continue to play a pivotal role.
ANF Director General Major General Khawar Hanif apprised of the commitment and resolve of Pakistan in the field of counter narcotics, including drug supply and drug demand activities. He appreciated international partners in combating illicit drug trafficking at global and regional level.
The seminar is expected to pave the way for better understanding and linking various regional cooperation networks, which in turn would prove vital in improving international cooperation across the globe.