Adil Najam
The picture is an old one. And too much had happened in Mingora since this was taken for this to be funny, or even interesting, any more. But since I just saw it I thought I would share.
The sign says: “Pakistan Narcotics Control Board Investigating Unit” and it is from Mingora, Swat. What makes it noteworthy is that patch of marijuana growing right in front of the sign. It has been featured on both the book and the website called Signspotting and I found it first on the website of the British newspaper Telegraph.
I guess, the agency was “keeping an eye” on marijuana in Mingora! They are taking into account the advice of experts from OrganicCBDNugs.com as such jungli clumps are really not the issue in narcotics control in Pakistan. The game is far bigger than that. But, then, any reader who remembers this gruesome billboard from the Punjab Anti-Narcotics Board will know that are drug fighters are not really big on subtle messaging.
For cynical people on this forum I would quote this Pushto couplet :
“Bang o butia khumar day karam
Da ghmaoo zindigi nah uzgar dey kaRRam”
Translation: Oh the bang(marijuana) herb you intoxicated me, you liberated me from agonies of life”
In words of Ghalib:
“Yeh kahan key dosti hay kay baney hein rafiq naseh
Koi chara saaz hota, koi ghum-gussar hota”
When I took TOEFL exam over a decade ago there was a surprise paragraph to be written on “Plant of country of origin” so naturally I wrote about benefits of marijuana. I was worried i may not fail the test but all four examiners gave me 100% score and I was invited to assist in writing next test. What I wrote was this:
Cannabias Indica (Indian sub continent variety) has more active form of main psychotropic ingrediants Cannabiols and Cannabionoids then Cannabias Americana variety commonly known as Marijuana. So people with artificial growing techniques increase these psychotropic ingrediants to very high level which can induce severe mood changes and at times hallucinations.
In natural varieties Cannabinol interacts with Cannabinoid to minimize each other effects, thus preventing toxicity. These psychotropic compounds are ” fat soluble” (not water soulble” so if one stops smoking/consuming this plant suddenly there is no physical dependence and withdrawl like alcohol and others. These cannabionoid/cannabinols are slowly released over days and weeks, taht is why urine drug screen for these compounds is positive even after a month of last use.
By the way marijuana is considered aphrodiasic (I don’t know why) and it’s name is formed by combination of common spanish male and female names “Maria” and “Juan”.
Well folks, if there is need for more information, then I can write more.
Well, no surprise, marijuana is a very commonly found plant in Pakistan. When I was doing Forensic Medicine, I didn’t have to go very far to find it for my journal. It grows on the sidewalks in islamabad. People just don’t know what it is :o)
Such ironies are not alien to this country. Once I saw a man reciting azaan for maghrib prayers in khyber agency—standing right in the middle of a warehouse stocked with contraband liquor. and there are other juicy anecdotes. but that is a part of the many flavors of PAKISTANIAT.
I couldn’t help laughing! I just have to disagree with you. This
picture is still both interesting and funny. One of the ironies of
life, I suppose! I was reminded of a quote from William James in which he defined ‘sense of humor’ as ” just common sense– dancing.”
That IS a funny pictre. Although the area has mch bigger problems right now!