"There are now over 29 million people within this category as compared to the previous figure of 27 million": World Drug Report 2016

Provincial Launch of World Drug Report - 23 August 2016, Karachi

The UNODC Country Office Pakistan in collaboration with the Narcotics Control Division (NCD), Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control, Government of Pakistan jointly carried out a provincial launch of UNODC's flagship publication, the World Drug Report 2016, in Karachi. The event was well attended by representatives from academia, the UN agencies, diplomatic missions, civil society, and the media.

While giving a very comprehensive presentation on the global overview of drugs, UNODC Representative Cesar Guedes stated that around five per cent of the world adult population, or nearly 250 million people between the ages of 15 and 64, used at least one drug in 2014 according to the latest World Drug Report 2016, initially released last month in Geneva, New York, and Vienna by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. 

Although substantial, this figure has not grown over the past four years in proportion to the global population. The report, however, suggests that the number of people classified as suffering from drug user disorders has increased disproportionally for the first time in six years. The overall impact of drug use in terms of health consequences continues to be devastating, he informed.

'There are now over 29 million people within this category as compared to the previous figure of 27 million. Additionally, around 12 million people inject drugs with 14 percent of these living with HIV. The overall impact of drug use in terms of health consequences continues to be devastating,' Mr Guedes added.

At the WDR Launch, Mr. Ajaz Ali Khan, Secretary Narcotics Control Division said, like many other countries, Pakistan was a transit country for drugs smuggling and suffered greatly, but that serious efforts were being made to control this scourge and prevent both smuggling and local usage. 

During his speech the Secretary informed the audience that in 2015 the law enforcement agencies of Pakistan seized over 342 tonnes of drugs, amounting to over US $2 billion: demonstrating Pakistan's commitment to the war against drugs smuggling and usage.

This Report was released shortly after the April UN General Assembly Special Session on the World Drug Problem (UNGASS), "By providing a comprehensive overview of major developments in drug markets, trafficking routes and the health impact of drug use, the 2016 Report highlights support for the comprehensive, balanced and integrated rights-based approaches as reflected in the outcome document which emerged from the UNGASS."