M. Antonio Maria Costa, head of UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), has met Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, says an official statement. Aziz said Pakistan today is a largely poppy-free country and the government is making all out efforts to banish drugs from the society. He said as part of its drive to eradicate drugs from the society, the government has introduced strict laws, activated the law enforcement agencies, strengthened vigilance at the entry and exit points and has launched programmes to provide alternative livelihood to the people in the poppy growing areas. Costa said UNODC feels the recent opium boom and drug trafficking from Afghanistan seriously affects Pakistan and requires intensified cross-border cooperation. He said in view of the serious consequences of drugs production, all states have a stake in controlling the drug trafficking. Costa briefed the Prime Minister about the new initiatives of UNODC for border management cooperation in controlling drugs using better communication facilities and intelligence sharing techniques. He said in the spirit of shared responsibility, UNODC in consultation with the government of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan is working on an Outline Action Plan to improve regional cooperation in the field of drugs control. The Prime Minister assured Costa of the full support of the government and said Pakistan is a strong believer in the UN system. Aziz expressed concern over the growing drug production in Afghanistan. Pakistan has been conveying its concern to the Afghan government about the large-scale cultivation of opium and production of drugs, he said. The Prime Minister said it has been pointing towards the nexus between the drug money and terrorism and its destabilizing effects at the regional and international level.
