Pakistan (Ministerial Visit) (Hansard, 24 October 1985)

§ Mr. Mellor

I visited Pakistan from 12 to 20 October.

I had a series of meetings in Islamabad, Karachi and Peshawar with the President, Provincial Governors, Government Ministers, representatives of a number of law enforcement and development agencies and other individuals concerned with drug misuse. The visit was most valuable in strengthening cooperation between the United Kingdom and Pakistan and in encouraging the Pakistan authorities in their efforts to combat drug trafficking. The commitment of both governments to further action is set out in a document signed in Islamabad, the text of which is reproduced below. We are most grateful to the Pakistan authorities for the cooperation in arranging this important and successful visit.

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Memorandum of understanding between the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on control of narcotics I. The misuse of drugs is one of the most serious problems faced by the international community. The Governments of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland declare their total opposition to all forms of unlawful production and trafficking in narcotics. The two Governments jointly declared their determination to do everything in their power to tackle the problem and to bring such unlawful production and trafficking to an end. With this aim they will engage in full and close cooperation to tackle the problem jointly. II. The Government of the United Kingdom welcome the measures taken by the Government of Pakistan to suppress the unlawful cultivation, production, distribution and use of drugs and to prevent the unlawful transit of drugs into international markets. They note with satisfaction the determination of the Government of Pakistan to maximise the effectiveness of prosecution and sentencing practices. III. The Government of Pakistan welcome the contributions which the Government of the United Kingdom have made to the effective cooperation which has developmed between them. They note with satisfaction that these measures have included a contribution to the United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control (UNFDAC) opium poppy eradication and rural development project in the Dir region, the provision through UNFDAC of Landrovers for enforcement work in the field and the provision of training courses for Pakistan Customs officers in the United Kingdom. IV. The two Governments declare their intention to strengthen cooperative measures in this field. With this in mind the Government of the United Kingdom will build upon the assistance already provided to the Government of Pakistan in the following ways:

A. They will increase their contribution, via UNFDAC, to the combined crop substitution, rural development and enforcement project designed to eradicate opium poppy cultivation in the Dir District of the North West Frontier Province;
B. They will provide to the Government of Pakistan technical equipment for the detection of drugs smuggled in the mails;
C. They will continue to provide training, in the areas to be jointly decided between the two Governments, of Customs officers engaged in the fight against drug trafficking;
D. They will continue to assist the Government of Pakistan to breed and train drug detecting dogs;
E. They will con the Government of Pakistan any further measures of assistance which may be identified;
F. They will consider, with the Government of Pakistan, how operational liaison between the two countries can be further improved.

V. For their part, the Government of Pakistan reaffirm their determination to take effective measures to combat the drugs problem. With this in mind, they will ensure the effective and expeditious investigation, arrest and prosecution of persons who violate their laws on the cultivation, production, trading or use of drugs. The Government of Pakistan welcome the measures taken by the Government of the United Kingdom to strengthen their existing cooperation and to fight the threat posed to both countries by this major social evil. VI. The two Governments declare their intention to lend support to proposals for a new United Nations Convention against drug trafficking. Such a Convention should, in their view, include provision to enable all states to prosecute drug traffickers for offences wherever committed or to extradite them. VII. The foregoing record represents the understandings reached by the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan upon the matters referred to therein.

Signed in duplicate at Islamabad on 19 October 1985.

David Mellor,
For the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Shah Mohammad Khoro
For the Government of Islamic Republic of Pakistan.