Over 4m drug addicts in country: SC told
By Adnan Rafique

ISLAMABAD—The Senate Standing Committee was informed on Wednesday that over four million people are currently drug addicts in Pakistan and the trend of drug addiction in women especially use of heroin is on rise among them.
The committee meeting was held at Tarnol Model centre set up for rehabilitation of drug-affected people. The meeting was presided over by the committee chairperson, Senator Kalsum Perveen.
Commander Rawalpindi region of Anti-Narcotic Force (ANF), Brig. Tariq Saleem and project director Bushra Saeed briefed the committee. They said that the ANF not only arrest the drugs traffickers but also create awareness among the masses to check drug smuggling. “About 73 centres would be set up across the country for the rehabilitation of drug addict people,” they added.
The standing committee directed that the strength of the rehabilitation centres should be increased. It urged the government to provide buildings to the rehabilitation centre where there are separate wards for women drug addicts.
The committee expressed its concern over the rising trend of drug addiction among the women saying that the menace should be controlled.
The committee underlined the need for purchase of latest equipment for data management in collaboration with the international organizations.
The meeting was told that Pakistan was declared poppy free country; however, cultivation of opium in Afghanistan was a major problem forPakistan.
Later the participants of the meeting visited the Tarnol rehabilitation centre and enquired about the health of patients.