Italy to help find alternative livelihood for poppy farmers

KABUL (Pajhwok): Italy has assured Afghanistan of cooperation in providing alternative source of income to poppy farmers and treating drug addicts.

The Ministry of Interior wrote on its website that MoI anti-narcotics deputy director Mullah Abdul Haq Akhund met with Italian ambassador Natalia Quintavalle and the country’s special representative Gianfranco Petruzzella.

Akhund briefed the meeting on prevention of poppy cultivation, drug smuggling and sale and collection and treatment of addicts.

He also mentioned the fight against narcotics and achievements in preventing cultivation of poppy crop.

The Italian ambassador hailed the successful anti-narcotics campaign and said the level of drug cultivation and trafficking in Afghanistan had been reduced to zero compared to the past.

Quintavalle assured cooperation in providing an alternative livelihood for farmers in Afghanistan and cooperation in treatment and support of addicts.

ma