HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): Residents of western Herat province on Sunday complained about hashish smoking at recreational places and parks and demanded an early solution to the inconvenience.
Hashish users prefer sightseeing sites and parks to smoke hashish there and it has been annoying visitors particularly those with children and families.
Although selling hashish publicly is banned but still some residents claim the drug is sold openly in Herat city, the provincial capital.
Ahmad Jawad Parsa, a resident of the provincial capital, told Pajhwok Afghan News that visiting parks with friends was common among youth, but smoking hashish in such places had become a culture among Herat youths.
He said, “Parks are suitable places for students to study but unfortunately our youth use these places for smoking hashish.”
Mohammad Dauad Hamdard, another resident, was busy studying a book at Malak park of Herat city. He said unemployment had increased and there was no appropriate chance for them to enjoy time.
He said some youths considered addiction the only way to reduce tension and pressure of life.
He said, “Smoking hashish in Afghanistan has become a culture and there is no one to stop it.”
“Sightseeing places and parks are places where youths and families get together and meet each other but in Herat people are not happy with hashish smoking in parks.”
A number of other youth and residents held similar views and urged the government to address the issue.
Gul Ahmad, another youth, told Pajhwok that initially his friends motivated him to enjoy a few buffs of hashish but now he was he full blown addict.
When asked what would happen to him if he stopped smoking hashish, said he he might fight with someone and would turn to alcohol.
Meanwhile, Sayeed Mohammad Sadat, counternarcotics department head, told Pajhwok that from 60,000 to 70,000 addicts, including 13 percent of them women and children existed in Herat.
Jilani Farhad, the governor’s spokesman, told Pajhwok that everyone who harassed people at parks would be dealt with legally.
Pk/ma
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