LAHORE: The Punjab government has a plan to build rehabilitation centres for drug addicts with a 400-bed capacity in the city.

Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi issued directions in this regard on Tuesday during his visit to the 100-bed Roshan Ghar rehabilitation centre for drug addicts at Raiwind. He directed the secretaries of the social welfare and health departments to launch more such centres with a combined capacity of 400 beds in different areas of the city within two weeks.

At the Roshan Ghar, the CM inspected the facilities provided for recovery of individuals struggling with drug abuse. He visited various sections and wards dedicated to the drug addicts, encouraging them to overcome their addiction.

During the visit, Mr Naqvi stressed the need to enhance the rehabilitation and treatment services for drug addicts. He also issued directives for establishment of new centres to cater to their rehabilitation. He highlighted the importance of providing quality nutrition and regular supply of fruits to the patients at the Roshan Ghar.

Visits 100-bed Roshan Ghar in Raiwind, inspects facilities

The CM said he would ensure all necessary resources for effective treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts, stressing the significance of digitising the records of these individuals. He acknowledged the devastating impact of addiction on the families and expressed his commitment to helping those affected find a path to recovery. As part of the effort to combat drug trafficking, a comprehensive crackdown had been initiated across Punjab.

Later, the CM visited the one-window cell of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) where he engaged with visitors to inquire about the status of their applications.

The citizens expressed their concerns about the delay in the processing of their applications. In response, the CM called the relevant officials and instructed them to ensure timely disposal of pending applications. He also issued immediate directives to resolve the public complaints on the spot. He underscored that no objection certificates (NOCs) should be provided to senior citizens at their residences without delay. He directed the establishment of a streamlined system to deliver complete documents to other citizens directly at their doorstep.

Emphasising the importance of catering to expatriates, the CM directed the in-charge of the one-window cell to address complaints from the overseas citizens within 10 days instead of the previously stipulated time of two weeks.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2023