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
https://arab.news/z677n
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
Pakistan’s Sharif hails Trump as ‘man of peace’ at inaugural Gaza board meeting
- Shehbaz Sharif says calls for end to Israeli ceasefire violations in Gaza and ‘credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination’
- Islamabad hopes involvement in Gaza peace board will allow it to shape post-war arrangements while protecting Palestinian rights
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday hailed President Donald Trump as a “man of peace” as he attended an inaugural meeting of the Gaza Board of Peace in Washington.
The board, formed under a UN Security Council resolution following a fragile October 2025 ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, is intended to oversee international stabilization and rebuilding efforts in Gaza after Israeli war.
Pakistan’s premier called for an end to ceasefire violations by Israel to achieve long-lasting peace and to advance reconstruction efforts in Gaza, praising Trump for his efforts to bring about peace in various parts of the world.
“Your timely and very effective intervention to achieve ceasefire between India and Pakistan potentially averted loss of tens of millions of people,” Sharif said, addressing Trump at the meeting.
“You have truly proved to be a man of peace and let me say Mr. president you are truly savior of South Asia.”
In the past, Sharif has gained favor with Trump for publicly praising him for helping broker a ceasefire between Pakistan and India following their intense, four-day military conflict in May, while Islamabad also formally endorsed the US president for a Nobel Peace Prize.
Speaking at the meeting, the Pakistan premier said the people of Palestine must exercise “full control of their land and future” in line with the UN Security Council’s resolutions.
“The people of Palestine have long endured illegal occupation and immense suffering. And to achieve long lasting peace, it is very important that ceasefire violations must end to preserve lives and advance reconstruction efforts,” he said.
“The people of Palestine must exercise full control of the land and their future, in line with UN Security Council resolutions. Mr. president, we must work together toward a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination through the establishment of an independent, sovereign and contiguous State of Palestine, in line with the relevant resolutions.”
Earlier, Trump also spoke at the gathering and praised Sharif as well as Pakistan’s Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
Pakistan formally joined the Board of Peace last month after Sharif signed its charter alongside other world leaders in Davos. The forum includes an eight-nation Muslim bloc comprising Türkiye, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Islamabad hopes involvement in the forum will allow it to shape post-war governance arrangements while protecting Palestinian political rights.
Separately, Sharif met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who appreciated Pakistan’s ongoing support of Trump’s peace plan for Gaza and for joining the Board of Peace.
“In our meeting, we discussed the importance of our strategic relationship on critical minerals development and counterterrorism,” Rubio said on X.
Sharif also held informal meetings in Washington with global leaders who arrived to attend the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace.
The prime minister met informally with the Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.
“Important global and regional matters were discussed during the meetings,” Sharif’s office said.
