Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi said on Thursday that Pakistan was leading the war against narcotics and those associated with the business were being dealt with an iron hand, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Speaking to the UAE’s National Anti-Narcotics Authority Chairman Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad bin Hamdan Al-Nahyan, who called on him in Islamabad, the minister said that 400 people had been taken into custody in connection with smuggling narcotics to the UAE and tonnes of drugs had been recovered from them. “This feat was achieved courtesy of joint efforts made both by Pakistan and the UAE and a timely exchange of information between both countries,” he added.
The minister was of the view that the purpose of the fight against narcotics was to save the future generations of Pakistan and the UAE from this scourge, and defeat was by no means an option.
Naqvi expressed the hope that the establishment of the National Anti-Narcotics Authority in the UAE would boost the cooperation between the two countries in the fight against narcotics.
He, on the occasion, also congratulated the visiting dignitary on taking over as the first chairman of the Authority.
Speaking on the occasion, Al-Nahyan said that the UAE would provide all possible assistance to Pakistan for the elimination of drug culture. “Both countries will have to further strengthen cooperation so that the coming generations can be provided a safe and secure future,” he asserted.
Both Naqvi and Al-Nahyan agreed to further increase cooperation to combat drugs.
Other matters of mutual interest also came under discussion at the meeting.
