President Alvi assents to Control of Narcotic Substances (Amendment) Bill, 2022

ISLAMABAD, Sep 02 (SABAH): President Dr. Arif Alvi, in terms of Article 75 of the Constitution of Pakistan, has assented to the Control of Narcotic Substances (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which provides death or life imprisonment for offences related to the illicit trafficking of narcotics and psychotropic drugs of varying quantity, including Heroin, Morphine, Cocaine and Methamphetamine (ICE).

The Bill, after President’s assent, has become the Control of Narcotic Substances (Amendment) Act, 2022.

Control of Narcotic Substances (Amendment) Act, 2022 (the said Act) provides imprisonment which may extend to life imprisonment but not less than 20 years with a fine not less than Rs. 1 million for offences involving Heroin and Morphine of 4 kg or more.

The said Act also provides a punishment of death or imprisonment which shall not be less than life, along with a fine up to 2 million but not less than 1.5 million rupees for offences involving Heroin or Morphine of 6 kg or more.

The said Act provides punishment of death or imprisonment for life but imprisonment shall not be less than 20 years along with a fine not less than 2.5 million rupees for offences involving Cocaine of 5 kg or more.

The said Act also provides punishment of death or life imprisonment and a fine not less than Rs. 2.5 million for offences involving 4 kg or more of psychotropic substance methamphetamine (ICE).

The said Act provides for maximum punishment if the offence involving a narcotic drug or psychotropic substance is committed inside or near a school, college, university, educational setting or any other educational institution.