Naseebullah Khan
Pakistan is in the top 10 in tobacco use where 24 million people are addicted to it. The sorry state of affairs has been engulfing precious lives, particularly the Youth. Dolefully, the menace has reached the nook and corner of the country with special reference to the university level. According to a report of the UNODC 2013, there are 230000 drug addict people in Balochistan. These figures do not include the usual smokers of Tobacco that surpass millions. The DG of excise and Taxation and narcotics Jahangir Kakar said in 2022 that 280000 are drug addicts in Balochistan among which 80 percent were below age 40. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime reported in 2013 that 1.6 million people use Heroin, Opium, or both in Balochistan. It articulated that 13000 people took methamphetamine in one year.
There is no street in the province where drug addicts are not found. This situation further deteriorates when these drug addicts use unsafe means such as medical syringes which have been increasing diseases such as AIDS and Hepatitis. Moreover, this menace further destabilizes society by increasing crime rates and theft. When drug addicts are short of money, they ultimately turn to engage in crime and robbery.
Although, the government of Balochistan has taken steps concerning establishing rehabilitation centers in the province. These measures do not prove fruitful owing to a lack of future planning for drug addicts. Once, these patients are rehabilitated and set free, the drug addicts again indulged in this menace.
In 2019, the social welfare department of the government of Balochistan allocated Rs 1 billion for establishing rehabilitation centers in Lasbella, Punjgure, and Lorelai for providing free treatment to drug addicts. Another detoxification and rehabilitation complex in Easter Bypass Quetta was constructed from where 800 drug addicts were rehabilitated in 2022. The failure of governance speaks volumes when these drug addicts roam freely and quest the thirst for drugs in the streets. This mishap on the part of authorities further accelerates the number of drug addicts in society. The performance of the ANF in drug control has been appreciable but is not up to the mark. They seized drugs but many drug suppliers fled. This puts a question mark on the performance of the ANF and other law enforcement authorities. In 2015 the ANF Balochistan seized 16765 kg opium, 2752 kg Heroin, 26495 kg Hashish, and 515 kg Morphine. It again Seized 1091 kg of drugs in April. In February it seized 741 kg. In addition, Pakistan Navy seized 909 kg of drugs in March 2023. There is a huge list of seizures of drugs by the ANF but at the same time, it is equal to none as compared to its supply. It is, nevertheless, pertinent to articulate that Afghanistan and some areas of ex_Fata are held responsible for supplying drugs to Pakistan. In 2012 the UN world drug report says that 30 billion USD of drugs are smuggled from Afghanistan to Pakistan where 6 out of 9 routes are located in Balochistan. This assertion, though, carries weight. But, at the same time, the question arises as to how drugs are supplied to the nook and corner of Pakistan. Does it not reflect the delinquency of the authorities as to how drugs are smuggled and then transfers to far-flung areas of the country including Balochistan? In addition, cultivating poppy crops has been normal in Balochistan. How, this cultivation is possible under the nose of the authorities? Prevention is better than cure. The responsibility cannot be put merely on the shoulders of the government. The Parents, teachers, and media must play their respective roles. A strong vigilance is a must by teachers and parents and the media should preserve special space for awareness. Media should ban the advertising of smoking and drinking. More, society should play its part as a whole. Different segments of society must understand that these people need special attention, compassion, and empathy rather than sympathy. The affluent class of society needs to focus on curbing this curse by establishing rehabilitation centers and then engaging these patients by providing jobs once they are detoxified. Notwithstanding, the National anti_narcotics policy 2010 suggests drug rehabilitation centers in all hospitals across the country. This policy ought to be implemented in true spirit.
Human lives matter. The youth matters more. A drug addict person becomes of no use for societal development. Investing in human resources and stopping them from engaging in drugs is the responsibility of the state as well as the society itself. Providing them with jobs and caring for them after the rehabilitation process demand holistic policies and governance. Will the government pay heed? At current, the steps taken by the government are not exemplary.