Islamabad: In alignment with Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s vision for a *Drug-Free Punjab*, the Punjab Police have escalated their efforts against narcotics across the province. These operations, led by Inspector General Dr. Usman Anwar, have seen widespread raids on drug hideouts, resulting in substantial arrests and drug seizures.

According to Punjab Police announcement issued on 21 September 2024, this year alone, 79,709 raids were conducted, leading to the arrest of 44,281 individuals and the registration of 44,225 cases. The operations have netted 30,576 kilograms of charas, 681 kilograms of heroin, 306 kilograms of ice (methamphetamine), and over 726,000 liters of alcohol. Additionally, 1,240 drug-dependent individuals were admitted to rehabilitation centers.

In Lahore, targeted efforts included 7,260 raids, with 7,487 arrests and an equivalent number of cases registered. These actions resulted in the seizure of 5,353 kilograms of charas, 236 kilograms of heroin, 131 kilograms of ice, and nearly 50,000 liters of alcohol. IG Punjab has further ordered the intensification of these operations, particularly targeting modern drugs and their online distribution. He also mandated daily searches around educational institutions and hostels to dismantle the drug supply networks and ensure stringent penalties for those involved.