Committee reviews draft of narcotics control bill

In a focused session, the Standing Committee on Excise and Anti-Narcotics in Balochistan convened to scrutinize the proposed narcotics legislation, underscoring the urgency of curbing the drug menace among the youth and protecting the social fabric. The committee’s chair, Engineer Zamurk Khan Achakzai, stressed that enforcement must be impartial and consistently applied to be truly effective.

The discussion, held in the Assembly Committee Room, centered on the draft titled the Balochistan Controlled Substances (Narcotics) Bill 2026. The chair explained that following the 18th Amendment, responsibility for drug prevention was devolved to the provinces, prompting amendments to the Rules of Business 2012 and the assignment of enforcement duties to the Excise and Anti-Narcotics Department.

Officials briefing the committee outlined the bill’s objectives: to establish a robust legal framework capable of preventing narcotics trafficking, distribution, and abuse; to enhance cross-agency coordination; and to clarify penalties and enforcement mechanisms within the province’s constitutional authority. The briefing also emphasized the importance of transparency, accountability, and community outreach as complementary tools to policing.

Attendees included committee members Muhammad Khan Lehri, Maulvi Noorullah, and Safiya Bibi, along with Assembly Secretary Tahir Shah Kakar, Excise Secretary Syed Zafar Ali Bukhari, Special Secretary for Committees Abdul Rehman, and Additional Secretary for Law Saeed Iqbal. The gathering signaled a continued process of discussion and refinement to align the bill with broader legislative goals before it proceeds to full consideration.