Badal asks Afghan govt to stop smuggling of heroin

Pranab wants more centres of excellence Phagwara (Agencies): Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal on Monday asked the Afghanistan government to stop smuggling of heroin into Punjab. Badal, during his speech at the third convocation of Lovely Professional University in the presence of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, said all the heroin into Punjab were smuggled out of Afghanistan and help save precious lives of youths. Badal asked Karzai not to mind his words that "all heroin that comes into Punjab comes from Afghanistan. Our youth will be saved if your government stops its inflow. Otherwise, our youth are in danger of being ruined...If you can do something, sometimes things are beyond the government's control...All the heroin from Afghanistan goes all over the world". Delivering his convocational address, President Pranab Mukherjee emphasised the need for more centres of excellence and wider vocational training. Hamid Karzai was conferred an honorary doctorate degree at the function.

In his message to students, Karzai said, "You are the citizens of India and citizens of the world and you represent a country that is fast rising in economical, industrial and social growth. Your presence is felt all around. Keep progressing and at the same time, remember your culture and use your energy for the country's welfare".