UNODC reaffirms its commitment to support the Anti Narcotics Force Academy as a regional centre of excellence 

 

United Nations - Vienna, 14 March 2014 - A special event entitled "Enhancing Training for Law Enforcement" was jointly hosted by the Government of Pakistan and the UNODC Country Office, during the margins of the 57 th session of the Commission on Narcotics Drugs. The Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations (Vienna), H. E. Ms. Ayesha RIYAZ, and other high level delegates were also present at the occasion.

While making his welcome address, UNODC Representative in Pakistan, Mr. Cesar Guedes, said "the special event reflects our close partnership with the Government of Pakistan and our combined strategy to fight drug trafficking and other forms of transnational organized crimes in the region". "UNODC's capacity building to the Anti Narcotics Force Academy is a part of its Country Programme (2010-2015), and is expected to have a greater impact in Pakistan and the region, through fostering national and international interagency cooperation" added Mr. Guedes.

The special event highlighted the ongoing partnership between UNODC and the Government of Pakistan, while underlining the evolution of a combined training strategy based on international best practices. "Our record drug seizures during 2013 are directly attributed to our commitment and resolve to fight the drug menace, as well investing in the institutional strengthening of the Anti Narcotics Force Academy three years ago" said Major General Malik Zafar Iqbal, Director General of the Anti Narcotics Force, while making his opening remarks at the ceremony.

UNODC Country Office Pakistan briefly presented how various core and specialist curriculum modules were developed and customized for junior, mid and senior level officials in Pakistan, and the "train-the-trainer" strategy that aims at integrating these modules into the national training curricula. The Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) emphasized the strong connection between training capacities and operational results. The ANF seized 250 tons of narcotics during 2013, worth about USD 1.46 billion in the international market. This institution is positioning itself as a regional centre of excellence in counter-narcotics training, which in many ways was made possible due to close collaboration with international partners, particularly UNODC.

Several country delegates and representatives of international training institutes attending the special event commended the joint efforts undertaken by the Anti Narcotics Force and UNODC in further improving and promoting the ANF training facility as one of the top law enforcement learning institutes in Pakistan and the region.