Chairman Al Zarooni Foundation Calls On UNODC Country Representative Pakistan

Guinness World Record Holder, Author, Chairman Al Zarooni Foundation and the Emirati Entrepreneur 'Suhail Mohammad Al Zarooni called upon 'Country Representative for United Nations office on Drugs and Crime Cesar Guedes at his Residence in Dubai.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Feb, 2018 ) :Guinness World Record Holder, Author, Chairman Al Zarooni Foundation and the Emirati Entrepreneur 'Suhail Mohammad Al Zarooni called upon 'Country Representative for United Nations office on Drugs and Crime Cesar Guedes at his Residence in Dubai.

Guedes was accompanied by Shehzad Roy, a prominent Pakistani singer and the National Goodwill Ambassador for UNODC Pakistan and his team members, Arsalan Malik, Associate Programme Coordinator, Ms.

Rizwana Rahool, and Communications Officer. The meeting was also attended Arif Ahmad Al Zarooni and other senior officials from Dubai, UAE. On this occasion, Suhail Mohd Al Zarooni also hosted a courtesy dinner in the honor of'Country Representative UNODC Pakistan and his deligation, said a press release issued here on Tuesday.

Cesar Guedes (Peru) is an international civil servant of the United Nations with over 20 years of experience in various agencies such as UNODC, UNDP, UNIDO and UN Volunteers. During his tenure with the UN system, he has served in several country offices in Guyana, China, North Korea, Peru, Panama and Bolivia as well as HQ locations in Bonn (Germany) and Vienna (Austria).

Suhail Mohd Al Zarooni welcomed Cesar Guedes and his team at the Zarooni Palace. Guedes thanked him for courtesy and introduced Shehzad Roy in his new role as Goodwill Ambassador for UNODC in Pakistan.

He also discussed that Pakistan has a poppy free status since 2001, but there is an alarming situation about the neighboring country Afghanistan, where there is a serious rise in opium production.

"Pakistan, having the longest porous border with Afghanistan is at the risk of being vulnerable to illicit drug trafficking and drug abuse amongst youth", he said. This calls for new strategies and work for the government, agencies, civil society and private sector in promoting drug prevention and awareness especially among youth and families.

Guedes also highlighted that United Nations General Assembly Special Session was held in New York in April 2016 and the world drug problem was discussed with the member states who all are signatories of the drug conventions.

Speaking to Shehzad Roy said, "I had attended a three days UNODC's workshop on UNGASS and world drug problem couple of weeks back in Islamabad, where they brought all the government stake holders on one platform and discussed drug related issues, which was commendable.

He said, I had been following UNODC's work even before joining them as a Goodwill Ambassador, they are working in the fields of criminal justice, drug demand reduction and HIV/AIDS prevention, these things are close to my heart especially when children are concerned, and I will give my all to my new role as National Goodwill Ambassador for Pakistan.

"I'm very keen to bring some tangible change being with them," Roy added