Staff Reporter
LAHORE:Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has vowed to eliminate drugs from the province and protect the youth from the growing menace of narcotics.She made these remarks while addressing the inauguration ceremony of the Punjab Counter Narcotics Force (CNF), here on Tuesday.
Speaking at the passing-out parade of CNF, the CM expressed her satisfaction and pride at seeing the enthusiastic and disciplined youth who have joined the newly established force. The future of Punjab and Pakistan appears secure with the formation of this dedicated force, she said. Commending DG CNF Brigadier Mazhar Iqbal, she lauded his efforts in setting up the specialized force in a short period of time.
CM Maryam Nawaz stressed the urgent need to protect Pakistan’s youth, which constitutes 65 percent of the population, from falling victim to drug abuse. “A nation can only harness its youth as a strength if they remain healthy, educated, and free from drugs,” she said, noting the grave concern that drugs have infiltrated streets, neighborhoods, schools, colleges, and universities.The CM said that one of the most pressing appeals she received from parents was to protect their children from narcotics. She termed the presence of drugs in communities as a national tragedy and stressed that the formation of CNF was inevitable. She said that 12,000 applications were received for recruitment, from which 850 personnel have been selected purely on merit. She congratulated the newly inducted officers and their families, adding that CNF is now operational in all divisions of Punjab and will soon be extended to all districts.
