The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) on Thursday burnt 320.50 tons of prohibited drugs, valuing $2.25 billion, seized during different operations in various parts of the country in 2014-15. The ANF organised drug burning ceremonies in various parts of the country including Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi and Quetta. Out of 320.50 tons drugs, ANF burnt 293.369 tons drugs in Quetta, 14.85 tons in Karachi, 2.28 tons in Lahore and 9.66 tons in Rawalpindi.
The burnt drugs comprised 70665.0511 kg opium, 1326.93 kg morphine, 12092.674 kg heroin, 176509.673 kg hashish, 27.133 kg cocaine, 3.452 kg methamphetamine, 1790.56 kg amphetamine, 163.84 kg bhang, 4943.12 litres acetic anhydride, 46769.98 kg cannabis and 6189.95 kg prohibited chemicals. Speaking at the drug burning ceremony held here, Baligh Ur Rehman, State Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control, said "Pakistan is a poppy-free country but huge production of narcotics in Afghanistan (producer of 75 percent of world's total opiate production), had been challenging for us." He said a number drug addicts in Pakistan touched the figure of approximately 6.4 million, adding illicit drug trade undermined governance, institutions and societal cohesion.
Rehman said the government had increased the budget of ANF to make it more efficient in a bid to eradicate the menace of drugs from the country. "We value international expectations and are determined to abide by all international laws and UN conventions. We have already signed MoUs with 32 countries in this regard," he added. DG ANF Major General Khawar Hanif said that in 2014-15, ANF registered 1,337 cases, apprehended 1,642 persons including 71 foreigners, busted 42 drug-trafficking organisations and drug gangs including 30 domestic and 12 international and seized 345.54 tons of narcotics. He said ANF was providing free boarding, lodging and treatment to addicts in Islamabad, Quetta and Karachi. In this regard, he said ANF had treated 1,484 patients, which include 473 in Islamabad, 324 in Quetta and 687 in Karachi.