Pubdate: Wed, 14 Nov 2007
Source: Daily Times (Pakistan)
Copyright: 2007 Daily Times
Contact:  http://www.dailytimes.com.pk
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2893

ILLEGAL DRUGS' BUSINESS - MINISTRY CRITICIZED FOR  IGNORING SENATE
BODY'S ADVICE

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Narcotics  Control on
Tuesday criticised the Narcotics Control  Ministry for not
implementing its recommendations about  checking the use of illegal
drugs.

The committee, which met at the Parliament House with  Senator Kalsoom
Perveen in the chair, directed the  ministry to gear up its efforts to
increase  inter-provincial coordination to facilitate forums  working
against the drug menace.

Committee members said the trade of illicit drugs was  growing in the
country and those involved in the  illegal activity deserved
punishment. It stressed the  need for appropriate checks and balances
to discourage  the misuse of drugs. The senate body recommended the
Narcotics Control Ministry issue No Objection  Certificate (NOC) for
import of chemicals like Toluene,  Potassium Permanganate and Methyl
Ethyl Ketone (MEK) by  various industries within one month and
appropriate  check be maintained on the importers and the users.

Earlier, officials of the Narcotics Control and  Commerce Ministries
and Anti Narcotics Force (ANF)  briefed the committee on steps taken
to rein in the  illegal trade of precursor chemicals. The body was
updated on various policy making forums set up to  control the menace.

Senators Nisar Memon, Sardar Mehmood Khan, Tahira  Latif, Mir
Israrullah Khan, Syed Muhammad Hussain,  Maulana Gul Naseeb Khan and
Rehmatullah Kakar,  Narcotics Control Minister Ghaus Bux Mehar, senior
  officials of the ministry, ANF and the Commerce  Ministry attended
the meeting.
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MAP posted-by: Derek