Islamabad, August 27, 2025: The 16th meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control was held on August 27, 2025, at 02:00 p.m. in Parliament House, Islamabad, under the chairmanship of Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz, MNA. The Committee confirmed the minutes of its previous meeting held on August 5, 2025, and reviewed the implementation status of its earlier recommendations. The Capital Development Authority (CDA) informed that sectors F-10 and F-11 would be fully cleaned within the shortest possible timeframe.

A detailed briefing was given by the Director (Enforcement), Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), on the working/functioning of the ANF. He also apprised regarding Starred Question No. 148 moved by Ms. Sharmila Sahiba Faruqui Hashaam, MNA, and referred to the Committee. The question pertained to whether the Rapid Response Unit (RRU) had been established by the Government of Sindh to combat narcotics, whether the Ministry had any plans to collaborate with the Unit for a cohesive provincial and federal strategy, and what measures were being taken to support the RRU in terms of resources and inter-agency cooperation. The Director also briefed on Starred Question No. 146, also moved by Ms. Sharmila Sahiba Faruqui Hashaam, MNA, concerning steps taken by the Government to strengthen international cooperation and intelligence sharing against cross-border drug trafficking, Pakistan’s engagement with regional and international platforms to disrupt the drug supply chain, and measures to provide alternative livelihood programmes in poppy cultivation areas to discourage illicit crop cultivation. He further informed that while the Sindh Government had established a Rapid Response Unit to combat narcotics, its operations were currently hampered by a shortage of manpower. As it is a provincial entity, further details could be obtained from the Sindh Government.

 

At the federal level, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), comprising 32 provincial and federal law enforcement agencies, functions under the chairmanship of the Director General, ANF. The IATF coordinates resources, oversees drug interdiction operations, and evaluates the performance of its member agencies. Its ultimate goal is to make Pakistan a drug-free state. The ANF will continue to support the RRU under the framework of the IATF whenever required. The Committee was also apprised of a campaign launched on the direction of the Honourable Prime Minister to curb drug use in educational institutions in Islamabad. The Committee disposed of the matters raised under the above questions but recommended that the ANF take stricter measures to control drug use and present a detailed briefing in the next meeting. The mover expressed satisfaction with the Committee’s recommendations.

 

The Committee considered and referred the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2025 (Government Bill). It also considered but deferred the Corrosive Substances Assault (Prevention and Protection) Bill, 2024, the Islamabad Capital Territory Dowry Restraint Bill, 2025, and the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill, 2025, all moved by Ms. Sharmila Sahiba Faruqui Hashaam, MNA. However, she withdrew the Islamabad Animal Protection Bill, 2025. The Additional Director General (FIA) briefed the Committee on progress regarding FIR No. 447/24, registered at Thokar Niaz Baig, Lahore, on May 17, 2024, concerning the recovery of Mr. Imran Ullah S/o Mian Khan. The Committee emphasized that the matter was of great importance and directed that it should not be repeatedly delayed but resolved expeditiously. The Committee also directed in above case that a list of persons facing difficulties in obtaining visas and passports be submitted to the Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control for consideration and decision.

 

The Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations), Islamabad, briefed the Committee regarding a cross-version report registered at S. No. 2/32 dated August 16, 2025, and FIR No. 328/25 dated August 15, 2025, at Police Station Kirpa, Islamabad. The Committee directed the DIG to submit a comprehensive report on the matter in its next meeting. The Committee also expressed strong displeasure over the illegal occupation of land belonging to the National Assembly Employees Cooperative Housing Society (NAECHS). It was informed that land grabbers had occupied the society’s land and were forcibly restricting the movement of its office-bearers. The Committee, therefore, directed the DIG to coordinate with the affected employees of the NAECHS and other concerned individuals to resolve the issue at the earliest.

 

The meeting was attended by MNAs, Mr. Anjum Aqeel Khan, Chaudhry Naseer Ahmed Abbas, Ms. Nosheen Iftikhar, Malik Shakir Bashir Awan, Syed Rafiullah, Haji Jamal Shah Kakar, Mr. Abdul Qadir Patel, Khawaja Izhar Ul Hassan, Nawabzada Mir Jamal Khan Raisani, Mr. Muhammad Ijaz-ul-Haq, and Ms. Sharmila Sahiba Faruqui Hashaam. Senior officers from the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control, Ministry of Law and Justice, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, FIA, ANF, Islamabad Police, and Capital Development Authority also attended the meeting.