Punjab Counter Narcotics Force to Expand with 16 New District Stations

By Dr Ansab Ali — Lahore, Pakistan
LAHORE: The Punjab government has announced plans to expand the operational reach of the Punjab Counter Narcotics Force (CNF) with the establishment of 16 new district stations as part of its ongoing efforts to curb drug abuse in the province.
The development was disclosed during a visit by Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman to the CNF Headquarters, where he reviewed the force’s performance and ongoing anti-narcotics operations on Thursday.
Speaking at the occasion, the Chief Secretary said that the elimination of drugs is not merely an administrative objective, but aligns with the broader vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to make the province drug-free. He highlighted that narcotics abuse affects entire families, urging CNF personnel to continue performing their duties with dedication and professionalism.
Zaman also emphasized that merit and transparency have been central to the formation of the force and assured that the provincial government would continue to provide full support and resources to strengthen the institution.
During the briefing, CNF Director-General Brig Mazhar Iqbal reported that in the past six months, the force had conducted 510 operations across Punjab, resulting in:
Seizure of 15.4 tonnes of narcotics valued at approximately Rs1.8 billion
Arrest of 407 suspects
Registration of 283 FIRs
The DG highlighted a record recovery of 12,500 kilograms of hashish in the Gujranwala region. Operations also led to the seizure of modern weapons and 12 quadcopters used in criminal activities.
Alongside enforcement efforts, Brig Iqbal stated that a Youth Awareness Campaign has been launched in 53,000 schools and colleges across the province to educate students about the dangers of drug abuse and protect educational institutions from narcotics-related activities.
The briefing was attended by Secretary Excise and Taxation Masood Mukhtar, Director-General Excise Umar Sher Chattha, and senior CNF officials.