ISLAMABAD (APP) - Secretary, Ministry of Narcotics Control, K.B Rind has emphasised the need for upgrading skills of drug law enforcement agencies to meet the new challenges of psychotropic substances and cocaine. He said this while chairing the 10th meeting of Narcotics Interdiction Committee (NIC) held here. He dilated upon the role of various agencies in fight against the menace of drugs, and hence the need of co-ordinating the counter narcotics effort as well as training through the Ministry and Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF). He further said that the ministry and ANF provide an opportunity to all law enforcement agencies to forge harmony and enhance cooperation to achieve the common goal of a drug free Pakistan. The committee also discussed various issues especially imparting to counter narcotics related training to staff of other law enforcement agencies. A presentation on the current regional and local drug situation was given by the ANF to the participants especially highlighting the huge inflow of drug from Afghanistan. The focus of the meeting was co-ordination of issues being confronted by law enforcement agencies while performing counter narcotics tasks. Matters pertaining to enhancement of narcotics interdiction capabilities of law enforcement agencies and problems were discussed at length. Other issue relating to jurisdiction, resources, information sharing, joint operations and legal mattes were also discussed in the meeting. Director General ANF offered wholehearted assistance and support in this regard. He also stressed the need for timely sharing of intelligence and investigations for prompt action. The DG ANF informed the participants that ANF was in the process of upgrading its training facility to a Regional Training Centre where not only Pakistan law enforcement personnel would be given state-of-the-art anti-narcotics training but also cater for international students. He also requested various agencies to coordinate training, capacity building and other issues through the Ministry and ANF, as per laid down procedure to achieve optimum results. It was decided by the Secretary that NIC meetings will be held frequently to streamline operating procedures and co-ordinate capacity building. Later, the Secretary thanked all the participating agencies for their relentless effort in the field of counter narcotics against heavy odds in the face of unprecedented and exponential increase and trafficking of opium and cannabis from neighboring Afghanistan. Participants included Secretary Excise and Taxation, Punjab Sindh, NWFP and Balochistan, Chief Commissioner Islamabad, DIG Crime Punjab Police, The DIG NWFP, DIG Balochistan, AIG Sindh Police, Acting IGP Northern Areas, SSP Islamabad, DIG Frontier Corps Balochistan, DG Airport Security Force, DG Intelligence and Investigation (Customs), Director Operation Maritime Security Agency, and representatives from Pakistan Ranger (Punjab and Sindh), Pakistan Coast Guards, Frontier Corps (NWFP) and Frontier Constabulary (NWFP) attended the meeting.