📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ministry of Cooperation
Politics
Amit Shah sets Dec 31, 2029 deadline for Punjab to become drug‑free
✍️ The Economic Times
🗓 21 Oct 2026, 05:02 AM
👁 9
Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that Punjab must achieve a drug‑free status by Dec 31, 2029, outlining the government's timeline for the state's anti‑narcotics drive.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday announced a firm deadline for Punjab to become completely drug‑free by 31 December 2029. The statement was made during a press briefing in New Delhi, where Shah emphasized the urgency of curbing the state's growing substance‑abuse problem.
Shah said the target aligns with the central government's broader anti‑narcotics strategy, which includes intensified enforcement, rehabilitation programmes and community outreach. He urged the Punjab administration to accelerate existing initiatives and coordinate with law‑enforcement agencies to meet the timeline.
The declaration comes amid rising concerns over opioid and synthetic drug consumption in the state, prompting calls for stronger policy measures. While no specific funding details were disclosed, the central ministry indicated that additional resources would be mobilised to support the effort.
State officials have welcomed the deadline, stating that they will prepare a detailed action plan and report progress periodically to the centre. The move signals a heightened political focus on tackling drug abuse ahead of upcoming elections.
The deadline, set for the end of 2029, provides a multi‑year window for Punjab to implement comprehensive interventions aimed at eradicating illicit drug networks and reducing addiction rates.
Shah said the target aligns with the central government's broader anti‑narcotics strategy, which includes intensified enforcement, rehabilitation programmes and community outreach. He urged the Punjab administration to accelerate existing initiatives and coordinate with law‑enforcement agencies to meet the timeline.
The declaration comes amid rising concerns over opioid and synthetic drug consumption in the state, prompting calls for stronger policy measures. While no specific funding details were disclosed, the central ministry indicated that additional resources would be mobilised to support the effort.
State officials have welcomed the deadline, stating that they will prepare a detailed action plan and report progress periodically to the centre. The move signals a heightened political focus on tackling drug abuse ahead of upcoming elections.
The deadline, set for the end of 2029, provides a multi‑year window for Punjab to implement comprehensive interventions aimed at eradicating illicit drug networks and reducing addiction rates.