Islamabad: In a significant boost to combat emerging drug-related security challenges, the U.S. Embassy’s Office of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), in collaboration with the Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) of Pakistan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has successfully trained over 250 ANF officials. The training, part of a broader effort to enhance security and community safety in Pakistan, focused on addressing new-age challenges through advanced training techniques and resources.
According to United Nations Development Programme, the training initiative, titled ‘Enhancing the Training and Academic Capabilities of Anti Narcotic Force Academy’, aimed to increase the preparedness of ANF personnel to tackle evolving drug-related crimes effectively. This project, funded by the U.S. INL, included the development of a basic training manual by UNDP Pakistan following a thorough needs assessment.
The manual served as the foundation for four specialized training courses covering digital forensics and cybercrime, new psychoactive substances, money laundering, terror financing, and crime scene investigation. Between February and May 2024, over 70 master trainers were equipped by UNDP to disseminate this knowledge across various ANF cadres, reinforcing ANF’s institutional training capacity and ensuring long-term sustainability. The training notably emphasized inclusivity, with over 20% of the participants being women officers.
Brigadier Riffat Ali Khan, Chief of Staff at ANF Headquarters, highlighted the academy’s ambition to become a regional center of excellence. He praised the new specialized courses as a testament to ANF’s commitment to upskilling its staff to international standards and providing effective community services. Brigadier Khan expressed gratitude towards the U.S. INL and UNDP for their significant contributions to enhancing the ANF’s institutional capabilities.
The training culminated in a closing ceremony where training manuals and specialized equipment were distributed to facilitate ongoing training efforts at ANF. Carrie Basnight, Deputy Director of the U.S. INL, commented on the critical need for upgrading the skills of counter-narcotics staff to respond more robustly to modern security challenges. He reaffirmed the U.S. INL’s commitment to continuing support for ANF’s capacity enhancement.
Samuel Rizk, Resident Representative of UNDP Pakistan, acknowledged the sustainable impact of the project. He emphasized that the development of institutional capacity at ANF ensures that skilled master trainers and essential resources will remain available to new staff, promoting safer and drug-free communities long after the project’s conclusion.
This training initiative is part of the UNDP’s Rule of Law Programme, which implements various interventions to strengthen security and justice sector governance in Pakistan.