**Punjab Establishes Pakistan’s First Provincial Counter Narcotics Force to Combat Drug Abuse**
Punjab has taken a bold step in its fight against drug abuse with the formal launch of the Punjab Counter Narcotics Force, the first initiative of its kind by any province in Pakistan. The newly established force, announced by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, aims to protect communities—especially youth—from the escalating threat of narcotics while pledging a comprehensive approach to prevention, enforcement, and rehabilitation.
During the official inauguration ceremony, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif described the creation of the force as a critical component of her administration’s vision for a healthier and safer Punjab. She emphasized the government’s determination to make the province “free from drugs,” and vowed full political and institutional backing to ensure the anti-narcotics force’s effectiveness.
The Punjab Counter Narcotics Force is equipped with specialized training, advanced surveillance capabilities, and the legal authority required to dismantle the drug trafficking networks operating within the province. Its primary focus will be on addressing the infiltration of narcotics into educational institutions and urban centers, with special efforts to disrupt supply chains and apprehend perpetrators.
In addition to enforcement, the force’s mandate includes community outreach, public awareness campaigns, and programs for the rehabilitation of drug addicts. By engaging youth and the broader public, the initiative seeks to foster resilience against drug abuse and support individuals recovering from addiction.
This program will coordinate closely with federal law enforcement agencies and local stakeholders to implement an integrated, province-wide strategy against narcotics. The move has been widely welcomed by civil society organizations and public health experts, who view the creation of the Punjab Counter Narcotics Force as a timely and much-needed intervention in response to the worsening drug crisis afflicting the region.
By becoming the first province in Pakistan to launch such a dedicated anti-narcotics body, Punjab sets a precedent for other regions to develop similar strategies in the battle against drug trafficking and abuse.
