Third phase of Drug-Free Peshawar begins
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has launched the third phase of Drug Free Peshawar drive.
Provincial Minister for Social Welfare, Syed Qasim Ali Shah, has said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, the current government has launched the 'Drug-Free Peshawar Phase Three' campaign in order to rehabilitate drug addicts.
As part of the initiative, 2,000 individuals are being provided free treatment, and concrete measures will be taken to curb drug addiction.
He expressed these views during a surprise visit to the Khwaja Yunus Social Welfare Organization Center. The provincial minister conducted a detailed review of the center, met staff and drug-addicted individuals, and inquired about the treatment facilities and rehabilitation measures provided by the government.
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Express Tribune
15-03-2025
- Express Tribune
K-P to keep rehabilitated addicts under vigilance
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government has decided to keep a strict watch on the drug addicts who have been successfully rehabilitated recently under the Drug Free Peshawar drive. On the instructions of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Rs50,000 in aid will be provided to each rehabilitated individual to help them financially. Families have also been directed to keep a close eye on these individuals and inform the Drug Control Room immediately if they relapse into addiction. A formal affidavit has been obtained from the families, binding them to monitor the rehabilitated individuals and bring them to rehabilitation centres for medical check-ups every 15 days. To prevent these individuals from relapsing into addiction, a special squad comprising the Social Welfare Department and police has been formed. Starting on Monday, this squad will visit various areas of the city and transfer individuals struggling with addiction to rehabilitation centres. Those who relapse will also receive free treatment for six months. In this regard, agreements have already been made with rehabilitation centres. Moreover, those suffering from mental health issues will receive treatment at their homes. Specialist doctors from rehabilitation centres will visit these people every 15 days to provide treatment. Punjab's rehabilitated individuals will be handed over to the Punjab government on Monday. In this regard, contact has been made with the Punjab Social Welfare Secretary. Similarly, Afghan nationals will be handed over to the Afghan Consul General in Peshawar on Monday as well. A lengthy meeting was held under the chairmanship of Peshawar Division Commissioner Riaz Khan Mehsud to discuss these arrangements. The meeting was attended by Peshawar Deputy Commissioner Sarmad Salim Akram, Social Welfare Director Rafiq Mohmand, Social Welfare District Officer Noor Muhammad Mehsud, and administrators and specialist doctors from rehabilitation centres. It may be recalled that in January this year, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur had decided to include the rehabilitation of drug addicts in the Sehat Insaf Card scheme, and directed that a case be prepared and presented to the provincial cabinet for approval. Once approved, rehabilitation centres for drug addicts will also be included in the Sehat Card panel, ensuring a more effective and organized rehabilitation process. This decision was made in the first meeting of the Provincial Task Force on Anti-Narcotics, held with the Chief Minister in the chair.
Express Tribune
13-03-2025
- Express Tribune
Sehat Card to cover drug rehab programme
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has said that the drug addicts' rehabilitation program will soon be integrated into the Sehat Card Plus initiative. A ceremony was held in Peshawar on Thursday to mark the completion of the third phase of the Drug-Free Peshawar program. Gandapur was the chief guest at the event, while members of the provincial cabinet, members of the National and Provincial Assemblies, government officials, and civil society representatives were also in attendance. On this occasion, individuals who had successfully completed rehabilitation under the Drug-Free Peshawar program's third phase were reunited with their families. The third phase was launched in November 2024, during which 1,239 drug addicts were rehabilitated. Among them were 13 women and 28 underage boys. The rehabilitated individuals included 611 from Peshawar, 536 from other districts of the province, 48 from Punjab, 10 from Sindh, and 26 Afghan citizens. This is the largest drug rehabilitation program to date, with a substantial allocation of Rs320 million. Speaking at the event, the chief minister expressed his joy at witnessing the reintegration of rehabilitated individuals with their families. He stated that the program aims to make the province drug-free and help addicts return to normal life so they can become productive and responsible citizens. The chief minister emphasized that this initiative is not limited to the province alone but is a nationwide and even global program, as people from other provinces and even Afghanistan have benefited from it. "We do not reject anyone based on their province or nationality," he added. Gandapur highlighted that this rehabilitation project began in 2022, and in its first two phases, a total of 2,400 drug addicts were successfully treated. This included 1,154 individuals from Peshawar, 1,039 from other districts of K-P, 170 from Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, and 34 foreign nationals. The chief minister reiterated that his leader's vision is to establish a welfare state where the government cares for its people like a mother. "Deputy Commissioners only need to bring drug addicts to the relevant office, and the government will bear the cost of their treatment," he declared. He urged the public to hand over drug addicts for rehabilitation, assuring them that the government will ensure their treatment. The CM also stressed a simple definition of right and wrong: "Anything you cannot do openly is wrong." He further stated that drugs neither bring happiness nor peace; they only lead to destruction. True peace and progress, he said, lie in following the commandments of Allah. The chief minister urged people to fight against drug dealers and expel them from their communities. Police will support you. Inform them, and they will take immediate action. We must not spare drug dealers, as they are the enemies of our children and youth, he asserted. Ali Amin Gandapur concluded by emphasizing the collective responsibility to eliminate drugs and drug traffickers. He also thanked the business community for providing employment opportunities to rehabilitated individuals.
Express Tribune
06-03-2025
- Express Tribune
Third phase of Drug-Free Peshawar begins
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has launched the third phase of Drug Free Peshawar drive. Provincial Minister for Social Welfare, Syed Qasim Ali Shah, has said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, the current government has launched the 'Drug-Free Peshawar Phase Three' campaign in order to rehabilitate drug addicts. As part of the initiative, 2,000 individuals are being provided free treatment, and concrete measures will be taken to curb drug addiction. He expressed these views during a surprise visit to the Khwaja Yunus Social Welfare Organization Center. The provincial minister conducted a detailed review of the center, met staff and drug-addicted individuals, and inquired about the treatment facilities and rehabilitation measures provided by the government.
