ISLAMABAD: Parliamentary Secretary for Interior and Narcotics Control Marryam Auranzeb on Thursday informed the National Assembly that National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) has trained 400 persons of Bomb Disposal Squad to prevent use of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attacks.
Replying during Question Hour, Marryam Auranzeb said that NACTA is extending all possible assistance and support to civil defence department, Ministry of Interior and provinces to control the IED attacks.
She said that to counter IED attacks the Interior Ministry has taken steps like induction of 40 bomb disposal response vehicles with relevant equipment that were received from United Kingdom and United States while 25 more such vehicles are awaited.
Parliamentary Secretary said that five bomb disposal response vehicles along with C-IED equipment have already been handed over one each to Islamabad Capital Territory, Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
She said the remaining vehicles are in the process of allocation to all the provinces including Islamabad Capital Territory and Federal Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
Marryam Auranzeb said the operational deployment of bomb disposal response vehicles will enhance the capacity of provinces to effectively counter IED attacks including preservation of crime scene and investigation.
Parliamentary Secretary said that in order to develop the professional skills and capacity, 14 short courses have been organized in collaboration with Army Engineering College, Risalpur.
She said the number of institutions set up by the government for treatment of drug addicts included MATRC, Islamabad, MATRC, Quetta, MATRC, Karachi and Adiala Jail Hospital Rawalpindi.
After coming into power the present government evaluated these institutes in every aspect and provided funds to all of them except one which is in Karachi, she added.
She said that all the possible facilities have been provided by the government in the MATRCs and number of addicts are being treated in the rehabilitation centers.
Marryam said that MATRC, Karachi is public property, land and building has been donated by Sindh Government and different donors including UNODC, INL-US Government, Pak Petroleum. Sindh Government and other philanthropist donate for running this centre.
At MATRC Islamabad and Quetta a 45 bed model addiction treatment and rehabilitation centers were working since 2005 with the capacity to treat around 360 drug addicts per year, she added.
She said that MATRC Karachi a 55 bed model addiction treatment and rehabilitation center was established in May 2010, which was working with a capacity to provide free of cost medical treatment and rehabilitation to around 440 drug addicts per year.
Parliamentary Secretary said that MATRC Rawalpindi, Adyala Jail a 10 bed detoxification ward has been established in the month of March 2010, under the supervision of MATRC Islamabad, volunteer drug addict prisoners are provided detoxification facility.
Marryam said that 15 percent of the drug addicted patients have been given jobs while more opportunities are being created.
To another question, she said that a Rapid Response Force (RRF) has been established in May 2014 and RRF comprises 459 troops of Punjab Rangers, Giligit-Baltistan scouts and 354 Police officers in Islamabad Capital Territory in order to prevent and control the commission of terrorist acts.
Parliamentary Secretary said that RRF apprehended 319 criminals and cases of 89 persons are in the courts and the criminals are under investigation by the law enforcement agencies and are being prosecuted.
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