Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industries Sensitized!

 

28 September 2016, Faisalabad - The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Pakistan in collaboration with Narcotics Control Division (NCD) and the Anti Narcotics Force (ANF), organized a two day Sensitization Workshop on Precursor Chemicals Control for private industry representatives on 28-29 September 2016, at the Serena Hotel Faisalabad. 

Mr. Toaha Hussain Bugti, Senior Joint Secretary NCD, in his opening remarks highlighted the important role of industry in helping Pakistan's law enforcement agencies combat drug trafficking and related crimes. He expressed appreciation for UNODC's support of the agencies in combating the trafficking of drugs and precursors to and from Pakistan.  

On behalf of Mr. Cesar Guedes, UNODC Representative in Pakistan, Ms. Anila Rahim, Program Officer (Precursors) gave the welcome address and thanked the Government of Pakistan for its continued cooperation; and expressed UNODC's great appreciation of the GoP and its law enforcement agencies for making concerted and highly commendable efforts in interdicting and seizing large amounts of illicit drugs and illegally diverted precursor chemicals destined for international markets. 

Ms Rahim dwelt in detail upon UNODC's global mandates, including the countering of transnational organized crimes and illicit trafficking. She emphasized the importance of the workshop in the context of the UNODC Country Programme for Pakistan. Officials responsible for various control mechanisms at the NCD and ANF briefed the participants on the processes and rules followed at their levels; and discussed the problems faced by the industry as well by the regulatory and law enforcement agencies. In his address Col. Sajid Aslam covered the overall prevalent drug situation in the region, with special emphasis on the diversion of precursor chemicals. 

This workshop on precursor control was one of the many deliverables under a new project on 'Strengthening Border Security Against Illicit Drug Trafficking and Related Transnational Organized Crime' (2016-2019), recently signed between the Government of Japan and UNODC. The objective of this exercise was to raise awareness within the industry on the diversion of precursor chemicals and their illicit use.  

On workshop conclusion, Certificates were distributed to the participants by Mr. Toaha Hussain on behalf of the NCD.  

The event was widely attended by the CEOS, managers, supervisors, Purchase & Quality Assurance officers, and traders of leading national industries based in Faisalabad, including Punjab Beverage, Sitara Chemical Industries Ltd, Ibrahim Fabrics, Rafhan Maize products, Madani Ghee Mills, Dawood Textile, Shine Home Phenyl & chemicals Mashallah Paper Board Mills and many other notables in the relevant industries from Faisalabad. 

UNODC in coordination with Narcotics Control Division and the Anti Narcotics Force will continue organizing similar awareness raising workshops for industry representatives on the issue of precursors. This achievement has been made possible by the generous support of the Government of Japan.