LAHORE – Punjab has once again taken the lead by launching Pakistan’s first provincial Counter Narcotics Force (CNF), a specialized force dedicated to eliminating the growing menace of drugs across the province. While all provinces were given the mandate to form specialized forces under the 18th Constitutional Amendment in 2018, Punjab is the first to act decisively by establishing the CNF along with other specialized units such as the Wildlife Force, Environment Force, Forest Force, and PERA Force. Speaking at the formal launch ceremony of the CNF, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz declared the creation of the force as a major milestone in ensuring a safer and drug-free future for Punjab.
The event featured a passing out parade, during which CNF officers and personnel took an oath of service and presented a general salute. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz personally handed over the official flag to the CNF and met with the newly trained personnel. “I see a secure and bright future for Punjab with the establishment of this dedicated force,” she stated, expressing particular pride in the march past by CNF’s female personnel. She also inspected state-of-the-art digital vehicles and modern equipment now part of the force’s operational toolkit. Brigadier Mazhar Iqbal, Director General of the CNF, provided a comprehensive briefing on the structure and scope of the force. He informed that 866 personnel have been recruited in the first phase, and the CNF is now operational across all divisions of the province. Each division has been equipped with regional directorates and CNF stations, ensuring a strong on-ground presence. According to the briefing, the second phase will expand the CNF’s operations to the district level, further decentralizing anti-narcotics efforts. All CNF officers and jawans have completed 12 weeks of specialized training at the Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) Academy in Rawalpindi, enabling them to undertake swift, professional, and effective action against drug-related crimes.