Islamabad:Pakistan and Uzbekistan have stressed on the need of joint cooperation and mutual assistance against the drug smuggling and drug abuse.
This was stressed in a meeting between Lt Col Sadullah Tashmotov, Charge D’affaires, Embassy of Uzbekistan and Muhammad Azam Khan Swati, Federal Minister for Narcotics Control. Lt Col Sadullah Tashmotov called on Federal Minister for Narcotics Control, here in his office on Friday.
The Federal Minister said Pakistan attaches great value to its friendly and cooperative ties with Uzbekistan, as the two nations have deep cultural affinities and shared traditions. He said relations between the two countries are based on mutual respect and trust. It was emphasized that the existing cordial relations between the two countries be translated into active cooperation in the field of narcotics control.
Sadullah Tashmotov said Pakistan has a rich and vast experience in the field of narcotics control which is internationally recognized. He said the government of Uzbekistan needs to utilize the experience of Pakistan against narcotics.
Azam Khan Swati said narcotics and drugs smuggling and its abuse is a common issue of both the countries and both the countries bordering Afghanistan which is a hub of drug production. He said smuggling of narcotics is biggest cash and money laundering business in the world.
Therefore, he said, it becomes difficult to completely eradicate it. He said we are trying our best to make free Pakistan and the whole world community from narcotics, he said international cooperation and assistance is very necessary in this regard.
Sadullah Tashmotov said Uzbek Anti-Narcotics Force is facing many problems in the field of narcotics control. They need help and cooperation of Pakistan in the fields of training, information and intelligence sharing. The Minister said Pakistan will extend full cooperation and will sign an MoU with Uzbekistan for cooperation and assistance in field of narcotics.
He said Pakistan will initiate mutual assistance program with Uzbekistan and will invite Uzbek officers to seminars and programs on narcotics control. He said we have focal persons in many countries and we have cooperation and coordination agreements with many countries. He said our intelligence agencies are very efficient in this field and we will share our experience and intelligence information with Uzbekistan.