It has been decided to keep a close watch on schools to keep children safe from drugs in the 31st meeting of the Apex Committee chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Thursday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Speaking on the occasion, Murad Ali Shah said that institutions should be established for the rehabilitation of drug addicts and the Narcotics Department should speed up operations in collaboration with other provinces and federal institutions.

Sindh Minister for Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Sharjeel Inam Memon gave a briefing to the meeting and said that in coordination with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, a Nigerian national was arrested in the drug trade and three drug dealers were killed in a crackdown in Hyderabad.

Sharjeel Memon said that 164 cases related to drug trafficking have been registered and 166 arrests have been made while 4.3 kg of heroin, 419,472 kg of hashish and 1200 kg of cannabis have been recovered in the crackdown.

Speaking on the occasion, Corps Commander Karachi said that the Sindh government will be fully supported in the anti-narcotics operation.

Later, after Apex Committee meeting Sharjeel Memon while talking to media said that the meeting decided to take action against drug dealers and in this regard, joint teams will be formed and joint check posts will be established.

He said that Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), Rangers, police and Excise teams will be the part of the joint check posts.

During meeting it was discussed that more than two hundred drug dealers were arrested, said the minister adding that illegal immigrants were also discussed and data on illegal immigrants has been shared.

What matters is that illegal immigrants are seeking asylum but illegal immigrants cannot stay and they will be sent back, he added.

Sharjeel Memon said that drug suppliers in educational institutions will be targeted while federal and provincial institutions will work together against drug dealers.

An important event took place in which a madrasa teacher was involved in Karachi Police Office (KPO) attack in Karachi and those who teach in madrasas were involved in the attack and concern has been expressed over this issue, said Sharjeel Memon.

He said action will be taken against such elements wherever they are found.

He said that facilitators of dacoits of Kacha area will not be spared and in this regard the President Asif Ali Zardari gave clear orders.

Anyone who supports a criminal will be treated as a criminal as well, he said.

He said that police submitted a report in the meeting about performance and the police will inform the media about each case.

Today it was decided that there will be a crackdown on display of weapons and display of weapons outside houses is also prohibited, he added.

Sharjeel Memon said that police and Rangers will take action from today onwards and action will be taken even against display of arms without uniform.

It has been decided to build new checkpoints in the Kacha area, he added.

As many as 43,762 illegal immigrants have been sent back till October 2023 and 1653 illegal immigrants have been deported while 42,109 have voluntarily withdrawn, Sharjeel Memon said.

However, 81,106 migrants have Proof of Registration (POR) card and 65,936 has a citizen card of another country while 57,000 Pakistani identity cards of foreigners have already been blocked while 17217 identity cards of foreigners are in the process of being blocked, Sharjeel Memon said.

He said that Sindh Chief Minister has decided to re-collect the data of all illegal immigrants and the data of those who are studying illegally in various educational institutions should also be collected, said Provincial Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon.

He said that in the process of data collection, the Special Branch, federal and provincial government institutions will work together.