Handing over ceremony of equipment to the Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) Balochistan

 
23 April 2015, Quetta-  Ms. Heather Cruden, Canadian High Commissioner and Mr. Cesar Guedes, UNODC Representative in Pakistan handed over essential operational equipment to the ANF Balochistan. The assistance package comprising of high-powered binoculars, night vision devices and personnel safety equipment was received by Brigadier Adnan Azim, Force Commander ANF Balochistan.Staff from UNODC Pakistan and Canadian High Commission Islamabad were also present on the occasion.

The Canadian High Commissioner acknowledged the challenges of drug trafficking being faced by Pakistan as the main transit country and first line of defence. "I sincerely hope that the equipment will add strength to the ANF's operational capacity against drug trafficking in the country, which will have a greater impact on the world at large", she added.  

Recognizing ANF's recent achievements and contributions in the international fight against drug trafficking, Mr. Cesar Guedes re-iterated UNODC's resolve in closely working with the Government of Pakistan. "We look forward to our continuing efforts to address the challenges of drug trafficking, through all available means of international support", expressed Mr. Guedes.

Thanking the Canadian High Commission and UNODC Pakistan for their assistance, Brigadier Adnan Azim re-affirmed ANF's commitment in combating the menace of drug trafficking in Balochistan. "The ANF's operational staff is gaining enormous technical advantage due to the equipment and inter-agency specialist training courses being provided by UNODC", he stated. 

The equipment has been supplied by UNODC as part of its Pakistan Country Programme (2010-2015) which has been co-funded by the Government of Canada. The broad based assistance programme of UNODC helps the ANF in improving its drug interdiction capacity particularly covering Pakistan's border with Afghanistan, an area that has seen a gradual increase in illicit drug trafficking over the recent years. ANF is the leading Pakistani counter-narcotics agency and an important stakeholder to UNODC's capacity-building initiatives under the Pakistan Country Programme. Operating under the umbrella of Triangular Initiative (TI) between the Islamic Republics of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan, UNODC's capacity-building activities contribute to enhance operating capacities of Pakistani border management and counter-narcotics agencies charged with managing Pakistan's borders with Afghanistan and Iran.