Strengthening the Anti Narcotics Force: Over 250 officials trained on new age drug related security challenges

30 July 2024, Islamabad: The U.S. Embassy's Office of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) Pakistan, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pakistan successfully trained over 250 ANF officials nationwide in specialized courses, focusing on emerging drug-related security challenges. Conducted under the U.S. INL funded project, 'Enhancing the Training and Academic Capabilities of Anti Narcotic Force Academy', these trainings enhanced ANF's staff preparedness to respond to evolving drug-related crimes and to build safer communities in Pakistan.

Based on a training needs assessment, UNDP Pakistan developed a comprehensive basic training manual for ANF. Building upon this, four specialized training courses were created with international experts, focusing on digital forensics and cybercrime, new psychoactive substances, money laundering and terror financing, and crime scene investigation. From February to May 2024, UNDP trained over 70 master trainers to enhance ANF's institutional capacity in training and ensure sustainability. These master trainers then went on to train over 250 ANF officials from various cadres nationwide. Notably, this initiative included a focus on women officers, resulting in the training of more than 20% of the women employed at ANF.

Brigadier Riffat Ali Khan, Chief of Staff, Head Quarter ANF, reaffirmed that the ANF Academy is striving to become a regional centre of excellence. He underlined that these new specialized courses are a vivid example of our commitment to the up-skilling of ANF staff to international standards and further providing effective services. This is crucial to keep our communities safe from drugs and other related crimes. He thanked the U.S. INL and UNDP Pakistan for enriching ANF institutional capacity and strengthening the Anti Narcotics efforts through this training project.

Following the completion of the training at ANF, a closing ceremony was held to hand over the training manuals and the specialized equipment needed to develop ANF's capacity to rollout the training smoothly.

Highlighting the importance of capacitating ANF to address modern-day security challenges, Carrie Basnight, Deputy Director, the U.S. INL, remarked, "Modern-day drug-related security challenges warrant upskilling of counter-narcotics staff for a more robust response. In light of this, the U.S. INL remains committed, now more than ever, to sustainably enhance the institutional capacity of ANF to better serve and protect the citizens of Pakistan." He also thanked ANF and UNDP Pakistan for their partnership in bolstering counter-narcotics efforts in Pakistan through this project.

Samuel Rizk, Resident Representative, UNDP Pakistan thanked ANF and the U.S.-INL for their partnership. "Sustainability is at the heart of UNDP's development efforts. This project is no different. Our support to ANF for institutional capacity development means that long after the project's conclusion, training manuals, specialized equipment, and skilled master trainers will continue to be available to incoming staff at ANF to create safer and drug-free communities in Pakistan."

The UNDP Rule of Law Programme is implementing a range of interventions to strengthen security and justice sector governance in Pakistan.

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For additional information, please contact Fizza Bangash at [email protected] or +92 (51) 835 5631

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UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet.

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