In’t. Day against Drug Abuse, Illicit Trafficking; awareness walk held
By Rafiullah Mandokhel
ZHOB: Like elsewhere in Balochistan, in solidarity with global observances, the ‘International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking’ was also marked with an impactful awareness walk in Zhob, the northern district of the province.
The walk, organized by the Excise, Taxation, and Anti-Narcotics Department Balochistan, aimed at raising awareness about the devastating consequences of drug addiction, particularly its insidious grip on the young generation. The walk took place along Jail Road on Thursday amid sizzling heat, drawing participation from a diverse cross-section of society.
Participants carrying a banner emblazoned with a poignant anti-drug slogan, symbolizing a collective commitment to combating this growing societal menace.
Rustam Mandokhel, Deputy Director of the Excise, Taxation, and Anti-Narcotics Department, Zhob Zone, led the walk. He was flanked by prominent figures including Excise Officer Moazzam Baig, Bazaar Union Divisional President Malik Gul Zaman Nasar, President of Zhob Bazaar Union Abdul Jabbar (alias Tor) Mandokhel, head of the ‘Drug Addiction Hospital’ Abdul Hameed Mardanzai, Director of ‘Dua Drug Rehabilitation Center’ Sheikh Ajab Khan Mandokhel, journalist Rafiullah Mandokhel, tribal elders Babu Gul Nasar, Daulat Khan Mandokhel, Abdur Rehman Kharoti, Abdul Latif Sherani, Inspectors Muhammad Naeem Nasar, Abdullah Kakar, Stenographer Quttab Mandokhel and Abdul Malik Appozai.
Addressing the participants, speakers underscored the significance of observing this day through awareness walks and seminars. They stressed that such initiatives are critical instruments in fostering public awareness about the devastating toll of narcotics, especially on youth.
They lauded the contributions of local rehabilitation centers, the ‘Drug Addiction Hospital’ and ‘Dua Rehabilitation Center’, commending their tireless efforts in treating addicts and restoring their broken lives.
Describing the drugs as a silent parasite, the speakers issued a stark warning about the corrosive effects of drug dependency, stating that the drugs eat away at the individual’s potential and corrode the moral fabric of society. They called for a holistic and multi-sectoral approach, one that extends beyond governmental action and includes parents, teachers, religious leaders, civil society, and the media.
A heartfelt appeal was made to every walk of life to engage youth in meaningful, healthy, and constructive activities to prevent them from falling prey to substance abuse. They urged communities to embrace this cause not only as a legal duty but as a moral imperative. Moreover, there was a resolute call for stringent, impartial action against drug peddlers and those complicit in this abhorrent trade. The speakers envisioned a peaceful, secure, and drug-free future, a legacy of safety and well-being for coming generations.
