Drug Trafficing in Pakistan

Afghanistan is the world’s largest producer of illegal opium, which places our country Pakistan in a very helpless position in terms of drug trafficking as well as drug abuse. Illegal drug production, distribution and abuse effect not only our social development but also our political and economical development.

Cultivation of opium in Pakistan declined during 2000. Government of Pakistan with the help of International Programs tried their best to stop opium cultivation. In 2001, however, the cultivation of opium increased due to the ban of cultivation of opium by the Taliban in Afghanistan and for the very first time in the history, opium cultivation started in the province of Balochistan. Since Afghanistan is a landlocked country, the export of opium is very difficult which is why, ports of Pakistan such as Gwadar and Pasni are used to export opium.

Even though Pakistan produces almost 1% of opium when compared to Afghanistan, Authorities feel great risk that the production of opium in Pakistan might increase unless strict measures are taken against the farmers who produce opium.

The area’s in which opium cultivation is still found in Pakistan are in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata (Federally Administered Tribal Area) and the reason is due to lack of security and governmental control in such areas.

Drug cultivation and refining in Afghanistan has a major impact on Pakistan.

Information regarding the drug trafficking routes is not accessible but the assumption is that these drugs are being exported to Western Europe and other destination through:

       I.      The

Western Route

via Iran

    II.      The Southern route through Pakistan

 III.      The Northern Route through the Central Asian States

Pakistan’s geographical location provides a very fine route for drug trafficking. After drugs cross the Afghanistan-Baluchistan border, they are moved further into Pakistan and also to the coastal cities for international export. Another trafficking route is from Afghanistan into the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. These drugs are mostly used within Pakistan and very small amount are smuggled into other countries.