Karachi: A significant stride towards bolstering anti-narcotic efforts in Balochistan has been achieved with the completion of specialized training for 190 officials from the region’s Excise, Taxation, and Anti-Narcotics Department (ETAN-B). This initiative was spearheaded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pakistan, with substantial backing from the U.S. Embassy’s Office of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), culminating in a ceremony that celebrated the enhanced skills and knowledge of the participants.
According to United Nations Development Programme, the training was part of the UNDP Pakistan Rule of Law Programme, which, through six trainings of trainers and eight cascade trainings held in February 2024, improved the proficiency of over 30 master trainers and 166 ETAN-B staff, including women, who make up 25% of the department’s workforce. The curriculum, developed by national and international experts, covered intelligence-led field operations, basics of criminal investigation and crime scene management, the legal framework of counternarcotics in Pakistan, and research, trend analysis, and strategy development.
Edward “Ned” Swann, Counternarcotics Program Officer from the U.S.-INL, praised the collaborative efforts at the closing ceremony, stating, “Through this project, we have built the institutional capacity of ETAN-B to ensure a more sustainable impact from these trainings. We are hopeful that these trainings will prove to be instrumental in reducing crimes, improving public health, and eliminating drug-related security risks in the region.”
The initiative marks a critical step in addressing the complex drug-related security challenges in Balochistan. Zafar Ali Bukhari, Secretary of ETAN-B, acknowledged the significant support from the U.S.-INL and UNDP Pakistan, emphasizing the department’s commitment to international standards and consolidated efforts to combat narcotics threats.
The training also identified the need for standard operating procedures (SOPs) to streamline ETAN-B operations. Subsequently, UNDP drafted a set of SOPs focused on enhancing daily operations against drug-related crimes.
Kaiser Ishaque, Assistant Resident Representative of the Democratic Governance Unit at UNDP Pakistan, expressed gratitude towards ETAN-B and the U.S.-INL for their support. He stated, “Improving security sector governance in Pakistan is our utmost priority. This project is not any different. We aim to continue forging such partnerships in the future to better serve and protect the people of Pakistan.” The UNDP Rule of Law Programme is committed to strengthening security and justice sector governance across Pakistan.