Anti-poppy operation launched in KP

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to launch an operation against poppy cultivation in Mohmand and Khyber tribal districts from April 17 to 30 to discourage poppy cultivation and address its negative impact on the population.

Ahead of the operation, Commissioner of Peshawar Division Riaz Khan Mahsud convened a meeting with officials, including deputy commissioners, police officials, representatives from the Excise and Taxation Department, Tehsil Municipal Administration, and the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), along with public representatives from the respective areas.

During the meeting, Riaz Khan Mahsud informed the attendees that Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur had directed to curb all forms of drug production, trafficking, and use in the province.

He said reports had indicated poppy cultivation in remote areas of Mohmand and Khyber tribal districts, prompting the government’s intervention.Awareness campaigns were conducted in these districts to educate growers and local communities about the adverse effects of drug abuse on society.

Special teams have been formed to destroy the poppy crop, with deputy commissioners tasked to personally lead and supervise the operation in their areas. Terming drug addiction a curse, Riaz Mahsud vowed to use all available resources to protect future generations from the menace.

Meanwhile, Riaz Mahsud chaired another meeting regarding launching a drive for rehabilitation of drug addicts in the Peshawar Division.

He said that the Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur had directed them to take immediate measures for rehabilitation of the drug addicts and collect all the drug addicts from the streets of Peshawar Division and send them to the rehabilitation centres. He said they had collected data of drug addicts in Peshawar and there were 2,000 addicts in the city. The commissioner said they had planned to take action simultaneously to collect them together and shift them to the rehabilitation centres. Riaz Khan Mahsud said previously the addicts would spend four months in rehabilitation centres.