Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has announced that the rehabilitation program for drug addicts will soon be integrated into the Sehat Card Plus initiative.
A ceremony was held in Peshawar on Thursday to mark the completion of the third phase of the Drug-Free Peshawar program. Gandapur attended as the chief guest, alongside members of the provincial cabinet, National and Provincial Assembly members, government officials, and representatives from civil society.
During the event, individuals who had completed their rehabilitation under the program’s third phase were reunited with their families.
Launched in November 2024, this phase rehabilitated 1,239 drug addicts, including 13 women and 28 underage boys. Among them, 611 were from Peshawar, 536 from other districts in K-P, 48 from Punjab, 10 from Sindh, and 26 Afghan citizens. With a substantial budget of Rs320 million, it is the largest rehabilitation initiative of its kind.
Speaking at the event, CM Gandapur expressed his happiness in seeing rehabilitated individuals return to their families. He reiterated that the goal is to create a drug-free province and help addicts reintegrate into society as responsible citizens.
He emphasized that this initiative is not limited to K-P but has benefited people from across Pakistan and even Afghanistan.
“We do not discriminate based on province or nationality,” he affirmed.
Gandapur highlighted that the program began in 2022, and the first two phases successfully rehabilitated 2,400 individuals, including 1,154 from Peshawar; 1,039 from other districts of K-P; 170 from Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan; and 34 foreign nationals.
Reiterating his leader’s vision of a welfare state, Gandapur stressed that the government is committed to caring for its people.
“Deputy Commissioners only need to bring drug addicts to the relevant office, and the government will cover the cost of their treatment,” he assured.
He urged the public to hand over addicts for rehabilitation, ensuring that the government would take full responsibility for their treatment.
The chief minister also delivered a strong message against drugs, stating:
“Anything you cannot do openly is wrong. Drugs bring neither happiness nor peace—only destruction. True peace and progress lie in following the commandments of Allah.”
He called on the public to stand against drug dealers and remove them from their communities.
“The police will support you. Inform them, and they will take immediate action. We must not spare drug dealers, as they are enemies of our children and youth,” he asserted.
Gandapur concluded by emphasizing the collective responsibility to eliminate drugs and drug traffickers. He also thanked the business community for providing employment opportunities to rehabilitated individuals.