PESHAWAR: A ceremony was held on Wednesday to celebrate the completion of the third phase of the Drug-Free Peshawar program. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa KP Chief Minister CM Ali Amin Khan Gandapur attended as the chief guest, along with provincial cabinet members, lawmakers, government officials, and civil society representatives. During the event, individuals who successfully completed the rehabilitation program were reunited with their families.
The third phase, launched in November 2024, rehabilitated 1,239 drug addicts, including 13 women and 28 underage boys. Among them were 611 from Peshawar, 536 from other districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 48 from Punjab, 10 from Sindh, and 26 Afghan citizens. This phase cost Rs. 320 million, making it the largest drug rehabilitation program in the province.
Chief Minister Gandapur expressed his happiness at seeing the rehabilitated individuals return to their families. He stated that the program aims to make the province drug-free and help addicts become productive citizens. He emphasized that the initiative is not limited to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but has also benefited people from other provinces and Afghanistan.
Gandapur revealed that the program, which began in 2022, has treated 2,400 drug addicts in its first two phases. He announced plans to integrate the rehabilitation program into the Sehat Card initiative, ensuring the government covers treatment costs. He urged communities to report drug dealers and promised police support to take action against them.
The Chief Minister also thanked the business community for providing jobs to rehabilitated individuals and reiterated the government’s commitment to creating a welfare state
