ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday approved holding a fresh National Drug Survey after a gap of 11 years, the Ministry of Narcotics Control confirmed, vowing that the exercise would help effectively combat the menace of narcotics across the country.
Pakistan’s government conducted the last drug survey in 2012-13 which revealed that approximately six percent of the population – or 6.7 million people – had used a substance other than alcohol and tobacco in the preceding year.
The fresh survey will gather reliable information on the extent to which the Pakistani population is using drugs and facing related disorders.
“The National Drug Survey will be conducted in the country after 11 years,” Federal Minister for Narcotics Control and Interior Minister Naqvi was quoted as saying in a statement by the narcotics control ministry.
“It is very important that the drug survey should be comprehensive and accurate.”
The minister tasked authorities to finalize matters related to the survey within 15 days, stressing that data on drug users should be collected from homes, educational institutions and also slums.
Naqvi directed the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) and the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) to jointly formulate a strategy, including the nature of the data required, the sample format and also the timeline for conducting the survey.
The minister vowed that authorities will not compromise on the issue of drugs as it concerns the nation’s future, adding that comprehensive decision-making related to narcotics would only be possible if the survey results were authentic.
“International development organizations should also be contacted for their cooperation in conducting the survey,” Naqvi was quoted as saying.
Earlier in March, Pakistan’s Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) said it achieved a “monumental victory” in the battle against drug trafficking by intercepting the largest consignment of methamphetamine, popularly called “ice” in the South Asian country’s history.
ANF and Pakistan Coast Guard personnel have also lost their lives in land and sea operations against narcotics traffickers in numerous operations over the years.
In effort to combat narcotics, Pakistan to conduct National Drug Survey after 11 years
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In effort to combat narcotics, Pakistan to conduct National Drug Survey after 11 years
- Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi directs authorities to finalize matters related to drug survey within 15 days
- Survey to include data from homes, educational institutions and slums, says narcotics control ministry
‘Our hopes break’: Pakistani cricket fans disappointed after India thumping at World Cup
- Ishan Kishan’s breakneck 77 powers India to 175-7, with Pakistan managing a hapless 114 in 18 overs to lose by 61 runs
- Heartbroken fans criticize national cricket team’s performance, express frustration at having their hopes quashed frequently
KARACHI: Pakistan cricket fans were left disappointed after India thumped their arch-rivals by 61 runs in their Group A fixture of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 on Sunday.
Ishan Kishan’s breakneck 77 powered India to 175-7 at the R Premadasa Stadium where Pakistan’s spin-heavy attack managed to apply the brakes to an extent after the opener’s exit.
The tournament co-hosts returned to bundle out Pakistan for 114 in 18 overs to register their third win in a row.
“The heartbeat of our fans has gone up, not down,” Iqra Awan said. “As always, Pakistan is losing the match again today. All the fans are sad. I am also sad that Pakistan has lost the match.”
Humna Nisar, a 23-year-old student, echoed the same sentiments.
“As a fan, what can I say? Every time, our hopes break,” she lamented. “We came to watch the match with hopes and full of optimism. But like every time, the Pakistani team lets us down.”
Tariq Siyal, a 35-year-old accountant, said he had watched the game hoping Pakistan would turn the tables on India.
“This was another match on the court with such thought that, after seven years, today they might finally pull it off,” he said. “But it was useless. We came with hopes, then we will see what happens next time.”
Pakistan have to win their next group match against Namibia to qualify for the Super Eight stage of the tournament or face an early exit from the World Cup.
