Police claimed to have arrested 2 women drug peddlers in Quetta
File Photo: Security personnel are demolishing safe havens of drug peddlers and addicts in Quetta during an operation: Photo Quetta Voice

Editorial :

The curse of narcotics has ruined our society. Thousands of young people fell prey to the curse of heroin during the last four decades in Balochistan, Pakistan’s least developed province. In Quetta, it is very difficult to walk on Jinnah Road because of the young heroin addicts begging and snatching things on the roadside. 

First, they (addicts) beg and then try to snatch anything from mobiles to watches and purses from women. Such incidents have frequently taken a place with addicts snatching purses, mobiles, etc, and sneaking into the main city nullah, which snakes through Quetta’s high-security zone.

Also Read: Protest rally in Gwadar against narcotics

This situation prompted the Quetta police and the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) to launch an operation in the main nullah the other day. CTD and police claimed to have killed eight alleged drug peddlers during an exchange of fire. This was for the first time that police and CTD conducted such a targeted operation.

Fate of thousands of addicts is still shrouded in mystery

However, the fate of thousands of young addicts still shrouds in mystery as the government is yet to make a plan for their complete rehabilitation. The challenge for the government is to stop the narcotics smuggling from Afghanistan and rehabilitate the addicts.

Also Read: Chaman: Around 200 Heroin Addicts on hunger strike

Officially an awareness campaign on social media, radio, newspapers, and TV channels should be launched to create awareness among the people about the curse of narcotics. This would be a good initiative to prevent the youth from falling prey to drugs.

Also Read: Malik Baloch’s passionate appeal to the youth of Balochistan

History of heroin dates back to USSR invasion of Afghanistan in 1979

The menace of narcotics in general and heroin, in particular, dates back to the USSR’s invasion of Afghanistan at the end of December 1979.

The war in Afghanistan had and has direct impacts on Pakistan in general and Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces in particular. It is a common saying that ‘Kalashinkove and Heroin’ culture is the product of the Afghan war, which distorted the true tolerant face of the two provinces.

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About the Author

Quetta Voice is an English Daily covering all unfolding political, economic and social issues relating to Balochistan, Pakistan's largest province in terms of area. QV's main focus is on stories related to education, promotion of quality education and publishing reports about out of school children in the province. QV has also a vigilant eye on health, climate change and other key sectors.