Regional Solutions to Global Challenges of Illicit Narcotics Trafficking

Pakistan's Side Event at 61st Session of the Commission on Narcotics Drugs (CND)  

Vienna, 12 March 2018 - This year a high-level Pakistan delegation with a new leadership in Ministry of Narcotics Control (MNC) and Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) attended 61 st Session of CND. The delegation was headed by Mr. Iqbal Mehmood, Secretary MNC and Director General, Major General Musarrat Nawaz Malik, Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military) along with other senior members form MNC and ANF. A special event entitled Regional Solutions to Global Challenges of Illicit Narcotics Trafficking was hosted by the Government of Pakistan on the margins of the 61 st Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs. 

Lt. Col Shakeel, Joint Director HQ ANF moderated the event; Mr. Iqbal Mehmood, Secretary Ministry of Narcotics Control, Government of Pakistan, chaired and welcomed the guests. He thanked the participants, and stated, "Today's event is an important opportunity for the international community to learn more about the challenges Pakistan is facing in illicit narcotics trafficking along with many other issues and how successful Pakistan's response to this global problem is. We thank UNODC for its contribution to supporting Pakistan in achieving high standards in the counter-narcotics drive."

Mr. Cesar Guedes, Representative UNODC Country Office Pakistan, said that UNODC and Pakistan have a very long and collaborative partnership spanning over four decades. It has always been in the forefront in supporting Pakistan and its hardworking law enforcement agencies in discharging their responsibilities with knowledge and equipment.

UNODC COPAK has a unique relationship with the Government of Pakistan and its Law Enforcement agencies and has been providing it with technical support and enhancing its capacity not only in the interdiction of illicit narcotics and precursor trafficking but other transnational organized crimes as well, including illicit human trafficking and migrant smuggling, rule of law, prison reforms and drug demand reduction. 

Syed Sijjeel Haider, Joint Director International Cooperation Anti Narcotics Force, Pakistan, presented an overview of Pakistan's successful response to global problem of illicit narcotics trafficking, covering the following themes: 

  • Colossal production of illicit opiates in Pakistan's neighbourhood with a recent rise of 87% - a huge/consistent threat to the region and globe
  • Pakistan is one of the front-line States in the war against drugs
  • Adverse spillover effects:
    • Approx. 40% trafficked to/through Pakista
    • Severe pressure on LEAs
    • Despite resource and capacity constraints, well-coordinated and strong measures extended
    • Initiatives of Pakistan taken in regional perspective producing huge dividends for the region and globe
    • Sustained achievements and CN efforts of Pakistan to be acknowledged, replicated and supported

He also showed the regional narcotics environment and discussed major dictates in Pakistan and all factors which are affecting drug situation. In the presentation the international intelligence led coordinated operations from 2016 to the most recent in 2018 were also highlighted and the assistance which Pakistan provided to international partners during 2017. At the end a way forward was also given to the audience.  

After the Q and A session Major General Musarrat Nawaz Malik HI(M), Director General Anti Narcotics Force, Pakistan concluded the event and thanked the delegates and representatives from various international organizations who attended the special event. He also said that Pakistan is committed to curb the menace of drugs and has a zero-tolerance policy against drug trafficking and narcotics.