ANF Youth Forum achieved significant successes. DG ANF Major General Nasir Dilawar Shah
ANF YOUTH AMBASSADORS CONVENTION HELD AT RAWALPINDI, SPECIAL “ANTI-DRUG DRIVE” IS BEING LAUNCHED IN MAJOR CITIES
By.Asghar Ali Mubarak
Rawalpindi –The two day ANF Youth Ambassadors Convention concludes at Topi Rakh Auditorium, Ayub National Park Rawalpindi. DG ANF Major General Nasir Dilawar Shah HI(M) was the chief guest of the event. The occasion was addressed by Professor Dr Rizwan Taj (PIMS), Professor Dr Bushra (FJWU), Mr Mansoor Ahmed (Ex Hockey Olympian), Senior Analyst Mr SK Niazi, Hasnain Ali Abbasi (President National Youth Assembly), Professional Youth Motivators Sidra Zafar and Zaydan Khan and Force Commander ANF Brig Ramzan Gill. Event was attended by Youth Ambassadors, International Partners, NCD, NGOs, Media Persons, Teacher Community and Students from Quid-e-Azam University, Muhammad Ali Jinnah University, Federal Urdu University, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Islamic International University, NUML, Foundation University, Preston University and various government / private schools and colleges. The ANF Youth Ambassadors Program is basically homed on to take youth on board for awareness / drug abuse prevention with the message “Say No To Drugs”. It aims at promoting mass awareness against drug abuse, highlighting emerging trends of drug abuse in society, raising awareness amongst youth specially children, parents and teachers. It also provides a platform for projecting youth talent and confidence building and to channelize role of youth in serving humanity and society without any discrimination & exploitation. While addressing the occasion DG ANF stated that ANF Youth Forum has already achieved significant successes i.e. creation of a country-wide Youth Hierarchy and multi-directional forum to engage society. Moreover, online communication system (www.anfnorthregion.gov.pk.) made this forum quite accessible, readily available as well as time & cost effective. DG apprised the audiences that its success can well be estimated that since its inception in June 2014, it has over 5000 active Youth Ambassadors throughout the country, who will definitely be inflicting very positive effects on Pakistani Society in future. He further emphasized that problem of drug abuse cannot be surmounted without the active participation of all segments of the society; hence warrants concerted endeavors by all through a multi pronged and well integrated strategy. While talking about ANF Enforcement measures, DG ANF announced that in near future ANF is going to launch a special “Anti-Drug Drive” in major cities of the country, for which ANF intelligence network is in the process of monitoring and evaluating its targets. Soon there will be a boost in already underway anti-drug operations especially focusing on all provincial capitals and Islamabad. The Other participants highlighted Drug Challenges to Youth, Effects of Drugs on Health, Role of Sports in Fighting against Narcotics, Role of Academic Institutions against Drug Abuse, Role of Media against Drug Abuse and National Responsibilities of Youth in Drug Awareness. Peer pressure was recognized as the core cause of addiction amongst students and street children. The Basic purpose of the convention was to motivate the youth to join hands with ANF in making “Drug Free Society” as well as to inculcate instinctive reaction to “Say No To Drugs” at the very outset. The event also emphasized to organize healthy opportunities to youth, hence providing constructive alternate recreational / informational social works. The venue was decorated with Anti Narcotics posters, placards and advertisements. At the end DG ANF presented souvenirs to acknowledge the efforts / contribution for “Youth Ambassadors Program” towards Drug Free Society.
DG’s Speech for 2nd ANF YOUTH CONVENTION
7th April 2016
Respected Guest Speakers, Talented Youth Ambassadors, Participants, Honorable Guests, Ladies & Gentlemen,
Asslam-o-Alaikum,
It’s indeed a matter of immense pleasure and honor for me to be here with you at 2nd ANF Youth Convention. I really feel great to be amongst talented and dynamic Youth Ambassadors, with whom our hopes and future lies.
As DG ANF, I feel pleased & privileged for providing this vibrant forum of joining hands with “The Youth” for creating awareness against drugs / addiction. I fully believe that with the devotion and dedication of these volunteers, the dark patches of our society will certainly be enlightened, especially the ignored and downtrodden populace.
Today’s Youth Convention is a symbolic representation of commitment of “Young Torch-Bearer” in fight against spread of Drugs and Narcotics. This is a “Spirit-injecting Forum” of devotion, vigor and commitment of young generation to bring positive change in our society. ANF stands to encourage and guide you, so that you are well equipped to undertake the fight against drug menace, which is discretely decaying the roots of our society. This convention is a milestone step towards our mission of achieving a “Drug Free Society”.
To me, this forum has already achieved significant successes i.e. creation of a country-wide Youth Hierarchy and multi-directional forum to engage society. Moreover, online communication system made it quite accessible, readily available as well as time & cost effective. Its success can well be estimated that since its inception in June 2014, it has over 5000 active Youth Ambassadors throughout the country. I foresee very positive effects of ANF Youth Forum on Pakistani Society.
Apart from this joint venture, ANF is also committed in undertaking different demand reduction activities. In year 2015, ANF organized 437 country-wide events. Since 2004, ANF has treated about 12,000 patients free of cost in Drug Treatment Hospitals. ANF is also providing treatment facility to addict-prisoners in Adiala Jail and till date has treated around 2000 prisoner-patients.
At present we have also renewed our focus on extending the facilities of Drug Treatment Hospitals. In this regard, a female and child rehabilitation ward is under construction at Karachi. Yet another, 100 bedded Drug Treatment Hospital is under construction at Peshawar. Both facilities are Insha Allah likely to be completed by the end of current year.
Ladies and Gentlemen, despite all this, the extent of drug threat is much more than its counter-efforts. The magnitude and complexity of drug problem warrants concerted endeavors by Government and civil society through a multi pronged and well integrated strategy. I personally think that drug abuse cannot be surmounted without the active participation of all segments of the society. All of us will have to play a part in this effort i.e. as parents, educators, community citizens, pro-active youth, government and international partners.
ANF being premier Drug Law Enforcement Agency is striving hard day and night against drug mafia, networks and rackets. We have come a long way in our fight against drugs. We have kept our fields and mountains free from poppy growth. However, 2611 Kilometers long porous border on our west remains a challenge for us. Our firm zero-tolerance stance and comprehensive approach to tackle drugs has worked well, whereby in year 2015, we were able to seize 210 Metric Tons of narcotics worth US Dollars 1.77 Billion. The record seizure during last year portrays a clear picture of ANF’s commitment to its just cause.
Respected guests, let me assure you that we will leave no stone unturned to attain our desired goals. In very near future ANF is going to launch a special “Anti-Drug Drive” in major cities of the country. Our intelligence network is in the process of monitoring and evaluating its targets. Soon you will be seeing a boost in already underway anti-drug operations especially focusing on provincial capital cities of the country.
I invite you to join hands with ANF and let us continue our resolve for the relentless efforts with the utmost devotion and dedication against spread of drugs and narcotics and make Pakistan and this globe, as “Drug Free Society”.
I express gratitude to all the respected Guests, especially the speakers for showing their great concern and sharing valuable inputs. I thank to Media for standing with ANF, in our fight against drugs. My special appreciation for all Youth Ambassadors, for their dedication and voluntary devotion. Well done ANF Youth Ambassadors, Keep up your Nobel Cause!
May Allah help us all to banish this evil from our society, Ameen!
ANF Zinda Bad, Pakistan Paindabad
Thank You!
