Syed Ali Shah, News Desk:Â
QUETTA – The Home Department of Balochistan, in collaboration with the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), has reported significant progress in its ongoing campaign to eradicate narcotics cultivation across the province.
According to official figures, so far 570 acres of land under poppy and cannabis cultivation have been destroyed. On Saturday alone, operations led to the elimination of illegal crops spread over 111 acres, including 8 acres of hybrid poppy.
In Duki district, action was taken against narcotics cultivation on 6.8 acres, though no cases were registered. In Loralai’s Nali Azam and Mekhtar areas, illicit crops on 13 acres were wiped out, bringing the district’s total to 125.2 acres cleared, with two tractors deployed. No arrests were reported.
In Chaman district, cannabis cultivated over 25 acres was destroyed, resulting in four FIRs. Meanwhile, in Pishin district, operations cleared 94 acres, and seven FIRs were filed. In Kalat, 30 acres of land were freed from narcotics crops without any cases registered.
The largest action was reported from Killa Abdullah, where the operation continued for a third day. Out of 98 acres, 20 acres withered due to water scarcity while the remaining 78 acres were cleared by ANF and district authorities. Overall, 289 acres have been secured in the district, with two additional FIRs, raising the total to six.
Authorities confirmed that the operations relied on advanced equipment, including 10 pesticide spray machines, four grass cutters, and two tractors, ensuring large-scale clearance in record time.
Officials emphasized that the anti-narcotics campaign marks a vital step toward making Balochistan drug-free. They added that with modern machinery and a coordinated strategy, the campaign will be intensified further in the coming weeks.
