KP CM Announces Inclusion of Drug Addiction Recovery Program in Health Card Scheme
Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sardar Ali Amin Gandapur, has announced that the rehabilitation program for drug addicts will soon be included in the health card scheme. He assured that individuals suffering from addiction would receive treatment from the government, and all they need to do is approach the office of the relevant Deputy Commissioner.
This announcement was made at a special ceremony in Peshawar, marking the completion of the third phase of the ‘Drug-Free Peshawar’ program. The ceremony was attended by members of the provincial cabinet, National and Provincial Assembly members, government officials, and civil society representatives. During the event, individuals who had successfully completed the rehabilitation program were reunited with their families.
The third phase of the ‘Drug-Free Peshawar’ program, which began in November 2024, has seen the rehabilitation of 1,239 drug addicts, including 13 women and 28 minors. Among these individuals, 611 are from Peshawar, while 536 are from other districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The program also benefited 48 individuals from Punjab, 10 from Sindh, and 26 Afghan citizens.
This initiative is the largest rehabilitation program for drug addicts in the region, with a total allocation of 320 million rupees. The Chief Minister also announced a financial assistance of 50,000 rupees per individual for those rehabilitated under the program.
In his speech, CM Gandapur emphasized that the goal of the program is to make the province drug-free and help addicts reintegrate into society as productive citizens. He also noted that this initiative is not only for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but is a national and international effort, with people from other provinces and even Afghanistan benefiting from the program.
The rehabilitation project, which began in 2022, has successfully treated 2,400 drug addicts in its first two phases. These individuals include 1,154 from Peshawar, 1,039 from other districts of the province, as well as 170 from Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, and 34 foreign nationals.
CM Gandapur also shared that the vision of their leader is to establish a welfare state where the government treats its people like a mother. He reaffirmed the commitment to adding the rehabilitation program to the health card scheme, making it easier for those in need to access government treatment.
He urged the public to hand over individuals suffering from addiction to the authorities for rehabilitation, stressing that drugs only lead to destruction and that true peace and progress come from following the commands of Allah. He called on the community to fight against drug dealers and ensure they are removed from their areas, with the police providing full support.
The Chief Minister concluded by expressing gratitude to the business community for offering employment opportunities to those who have successfully completed the rehabilitation process.
