Gilgit (Ibex News): The Gilgit-Baltistan Steering Committee for mental health promotion and suicide prevention has formally started work.
As part of its campaign to promote mental health, the committee will take measures to ensure the implementation of ban on sale and purchase of non-prescription drugs and ban on drug use.
Interior Secretary Iqbal Hussain has issued a formal instruction in this regard to the commissioners, deputy commissioners and police of the three divisions to kick start snap-checking operation in this regard. according to instructions, stern legal action will be taken against those violating the ban.
In Gilgit-Baltistan, the trend of mental health patients and suicides has increased. The authorities and civil society expect the campaign will be effective in promotion of mental health and prevention of suicides. and assured in every case.
It is pertinent to note that buying and selling of narcotic drugs is common in Gilgit-Baltistan. Many a time, buying and selling of drugs in public without a doctor’s prescription also vogue in region causing increased death rate and mental diseases.
The steering committee is working under the supervision of chief secretary Gilgit-Baltistan Mohiuddin Ahmed Wani. It is hoped that with full implementation of the orders, prevention of narcotic drugs and suicides will be mitigated.
