Drug and beggar-free Peshawar campaigns intensified

PESHAWAR: The Drug-Free Peshawar and Beggar-Free Peshawar campaigns have achieved milestones, with 2,400 drug addicts treated in the first two phases and 1,240 more shifted to rehabilitation centres in the ongoing third phase.

Among the addicts, 44 HIV/AIDS patients, nine Tuberculosis patients, and 17 Hepatitis patients have been identified and are receiving specialized treatment. Plans are underway to treat 2,000 addicts in the current phase while also expanding rehabilitation capacity by 700.

Provincial Minister for Social Welfare Syed Qasim Ali Shah and Commissioner Peshawar Division Riaz Khan Mahsud, addressing a press conference at the Drugs Control Room on Wednesday, announced a coordinated crackdown on drug dealers and professional beggars.

Minister Syed Qasim Ali Shah emphasised the government’s commitment to eradicating drug addiction, stating: “We are providing drug addicts with skill development opportunities and grants for employment”. The deputy commissioner praised Commissioner Riaz Mahsud for launching Pakistan’s first and largest-ever campaign for the rehabilitation of drug addicts in the country.

He recalled Riaz Mahsud was deputy commissioner of Peshawar when he started this campaign in May 2022 and rehabilitated 2,397 drug addicts, which he said was the largest number of addicts rehabilitated in the world.

“Luckily Riaz Mahsud is now commissioner of Peshawar Division when he launched the third campaign and successfully managed to develop liaison with relevant departments and collect the drug addicts from the streets and shift them to the rehabilitation centres. The government has extended the programme for a month so that the addicts can learn some skills after their rehabilitation and earn livelihood for their families,” said the deputy commissioner.

Of 1200 addicts, he said, the families of around 300 had been approached and efforts were underway to trace families of the other people. The official said a majority of the drug addicts were reluctant to share information about their families.

The inclusion of their treatment in the Sehat Card Programme ensures free medical care, while plans are underway to extend the campaign’s success from Peshawar to other districts.”He also announced the launch of the Beggar-Free Peshawar campaign next week.

The commissioner detailed efforts against beggars, noting that Peshawar was home to approximately 1,600 beggars, who will be taken into custody and separated into professional and deserving categories.

“Deserving individuals will be rehabilitated and equipped with vocational skills, while professional beggars and the mafias exploiting them will face strict legal action. This city will soon be free of both drugs and professional begging,” he said.

Before the press conference, media representatives toured the Drugs Control Room, where Deputy Commissioner Sarmad Saleem Akram briefed them on the advanced monitoring systems and ongoing treatment process for drug addicts.