India has reaffirmed its commitment to fight the menace of drug trafficking in the world particularly in its nearby region.

Union Minister of State for Finance S.S Palanimanickam today said that the problem of drug trafficking is not limited to national boundaries and it must be tackled by concerted and collective efforts of all countries.

He was addressing the second meeting of the Paris Pact Expert Working Group being held in New Delhi.

The meeting is being held in the backdrop of the release of 2011 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC report on Afghan Opium Survey which stated there has been a seven percent increase in the area under illicit opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan.

Mr. Palanimanickam said that large scale production of illicit drugs poses a serious threat to society as it not only has adverse impact on health but also supports criminal activity.

AIR Correspondent reports that that the Paris Pact Initiative brings together over 50 nations which are directly affected by opium trafficking from Afghanistan to collectively fight against drug abuse.

During the two day meeting, delegates and experts will focus on priority action to be taken to counter the diversion of chemical precursors used in illicit manufacture of heroin and the recent trafficking trends.