Total number of drug addicts is 628,000: Gondal
By Khalid Amin

ISLAMABAD—Federal Minister for Narcotics Control Nazar Muhammad Gondal on Tuesday underlined that total number of Drug Addicts in the country are 628,000 stressing Government is taking down to earth steps to reduce the number.
While talking to host of Journalists on Tuesday, Federal Minister for Narcotics Control Nazar Muhammad Gondal said that with the able financial support of United Nations worth more than 1.1 million US dollars will be spent for the rehabilitation of Drug Addicts in the country, mostly Heroin Addicts in the country.
Replying to a question, Federal Minister for Narcotics Control Nazar Muhammad Gondal said that funds would also be spent on Awareness Campaign to aware masses to stay away from Drugs, as it is menace to any country. He further added that at the moment total number of drug addicts is 628,000, Out of which 78% are using Heroin
Agencies Add: The Ministry of Narcotics Control and UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime), have signed agreement (two year project) related to HIV/AIDs prevention in Pakistan, treatment and care for female injecting drug users, spouses of male drug users and female prisoners. Mr. Hassan Mahmood, SJS, was signatory from the Ministry side while Mr. Jean-Luc-Lemahieu, Chief of UNODC of the Europe and West/Central Asia Section, has signed the documents on the behalf of UNODC, in the presence of Federal Minister for Narcotics, Nazar Muhammad Gondal and Secretary, Narcotics Control, Mr. K.B. Rind and as well representatives from WHO, UNFPA and UNAIDS, who will be contributing the implementation of this project.
The primary goal of this project is to enhance the quality of services being provided to female injecting and non-injecting drug users in the community. Similarly the prison settings are being improved by providing female access to existing harm reduction services and developing new female-specific and effective referral systems to health services providers.
It is stated in the agreement that key outputs include trained staff and outreach workers by existing harm reduction services. Establishment of harm reduction services in two female prisons and gender-sensitive drop-in-centre, including three mobile units exclusively devoted to accessing female injecting drug users. In addition the spouses of male injecting drug users, which are at risk, will be given gender-training courses in harm reduction service delivery for prison staff and peer counselors.
The project has been conceived as a joint programme under the umbrella of One UN pilot initiative Pakistan. The project, under the health and population Thematic Working Group covers the Joint Programming area 5 related to HIV and AIDS. The project will provide services to approximately 1,000 female drug users, 5,000 spouses, families of drug users and 500 female prisoners. The project includes capacity building of institutions within the Government and civil society in order to deliver quality services to the targeted population after project completion.
The delegation, headed by Mr. Jen-Luc-Lemahieu, Chief of UNODC, also held meeting with Mr. Nazar Muhammad Gondal, Federal Minister for Narcotics Control. While talking with delegation, the Minister said that all out efforts are being made to improve health services, create awareness among the masses about the HIV/AID and to clear the society from the menace of drug. He further underlined the needs for aggressive media strategy to counter the menace of drugs, establishing Rehabilitation Centers in different parts of the country and last but not the least enhancing coordination with different stack holders and organizations.