‘Masterplan being revised to control drug abuse’
By Bushra Rafique

ISLAMABAD—Minister for Narcotics Control, Ghous Bux Khan Maher has said the Drug Abuse Control Master Plan (2007-2011) is being revised to control the drug abuse more effectively.
The plan is being drafted in collaboration with UN Office on Drugs and Crimes who has appointed a consultant to coordinate with Law Enforcement Agencies to finalize the draft Master Plan, he said.
Maher was talking to a USA delegation of Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs here at his office. The delegation was headed by Chief of Afghanistan and Pakistan Programs Albert K. Matano.
He said Pakistan is implementing a number of projects and programs ondrug demand reduction both with the assistance of donor countries and agencies and through the government’s funds.
The Minister said that alarming poppy cultivation in Afghanistan iseffecting drug situation here and in the region as well. “Due to government’s concerted measures poppy cultivation hassignificantly reduced here as it is being cultivated only in far flung areas of NWFP,” he added. “We are striving to achieve the poppy free state status this year.” Maher informed the delegation that the government in collaboration with UNODC has recently conducted a National Assessment Study during current year to determine the number of drug addicts in Pakistan.
He said the study is in process of compilation and the results would bemade public in 2007.
According to previous study conducted in 2000, there were about 4 milliondrug addicts in Pakistan including 500,000 hard core heroin addicts and 60,000 were injecting drug users, he told.
Maher said during last three years Pakistan made largest seizures of heroin and morphine. In 2006 over 32 Metric Tonnes of heroin and morphine were seized till November.
He informed the delegation that USA’s continuous support has helped a lot in eliminating poppy cultivation and combating narcotics trafficking.
The Federal Secretary, Ismail Niazi, Senior officers of Anti Narcotics Force and officials of Narcotics Affairs Section, American Embassy were also present in the meeting.