Excise Minister Announces Joint Operations Against Drug Dealers

Published July 21, 2026 | 07:20 PM

ABBOTTABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Jul, 2026) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Syed Fakhar Jahan on Tuesday announced a province-wide crackdown on drug dealers and smugglers, directing the excise department and police to conduct joint operations to curb narcotics trafficking.

Addressing an open public forum in Abbottabad, he said dedicated squads from both departments would carry out raids and warned that those involved in the drug trade would not be spared.

The minister said Abbottabad had been included in the Safe City Project and work on the initiative would begin soon. Responding to public complaints, he assured citizens that visible improvements would be seen within a month and said he would write to the Registrar of the High Court over concerns regarding the early release of arrested drug traffickers.

He also warned that any Excise official found involved in corruption or illegal activities would be dismissed from service and prosecuted.

The open public forum was attended by Secretary Excise Khalid Ilyas, Deputy Commissioner Abbottabad Sarmad Saleem Akram, DPO Haroon-ur-Rashid, Director General Excise Abdul Haleem Khan, members of the business community, real estate representatives, local leaders and citizens, who called for stricter action against drug dealers and the early implementation of the Safe City Project in Abbottabad.