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Pakistan 'hooked on heroin'

Pakistan is on one of the main transit routes for heroin on the way from Afghanistan to the West. This is thought to be the main reason for the huge rise in the number of addicts.

The rate of addiction is double that of the US and growing. Most addicts are between 20 and 35 and part of Pakistan's growing middle class.

"The situation of addiction in Pakistan is worrying us very much," says Pino Arlacchi of the UN's Drug Control Programme. "Pakistan has today one and a half million heroin addicts, it is one of the largest addict populations in the developing world."

The country's position on the heroin trail is thought to bring in $1.3bn a year in revenue.

Pakistan has had success in cutting down its own heroin production, but it has been unable to stop the influx of the drug from Afghanistan.

Pakistani leaders are caught in a political problem as much of the heroin that floods into the country comes from areas of Afghanistan controlled by the Taleban, who are openly supported by the government in Islamabad.

The Taleban say they are against the growth of heroin, but are unable to do anything about it without international help.

With so many addicts and few resources the Pakistani Government is making little headway against the problem. There are some non-governmental rehabilitation centres which offer retraining, counselling and new skills.

"People want a better quality of life, but don't have access to it, that causes frustration," says Tariq Zafar who runs a rehabilitation centre.

He concedes it is a tough battle: "We want to alter that frustration, and 40 rupees worth of Heroin can literally alter your frustration for that particular moment."

Relevant Stories

Two tonnes of heroin found in Pakistan-made footballs (19 Dec 97 | World)
UN and Taleban make anti-heroin pact (25 Oct 97 | World)

Internet Links

Heroin US DEA Briefing
Pakistan Online
The UN in Pakistan

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