Swati calls for eradicating drugs menace in educational institutes

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Narcotics Control Azam Khan Swati said that the prime minister has tasked him to purge the country from the menace of narcotics drugs and save children which are the future of Pakistan.

The minister chaired a high-level meeting on the drugs situation in Islamabad especially in the educational institutions attended by Secretary Ministry of Narcotics Control, Director-General Anti Narcotic Force (ANF), IG Police Islamabad, Director-General Federal Directorate of Education, representative of HEC, Private School Associations and civil society organisations.

Azam Swati said Anti Narcotic Force (ANF) is fighting against the drug smugglers with limited resources and personnel, stating that 99.9% drugs are smuggled from Afghanistan. He appreciated the efforts of ANF against drug smugglers and dealers. He informed that ANF seized drugs worth of $8,300 million in the last month which is a huge achievement.

The minister said that Pakistan becomes the second-largest consumer of narcotics drugs which is highly alarming and drug dealers have targeted our educational institutions. He said that this meeting has been arranged to save children and youth from the menace of narcotic drugs.

Director General ANF and Inspector General of Islamabad Police briefed about the narcotics drugs situation in educational institutions of Islamabad. They appealed the heads of educational institutions and civil society organisations to coordinate and cooperate with Ministry of Narcotics Control and law enforcement agencies to exterminate the menace of drugs of education institutions.

Ministry of Narcotics Control will make a coordination committee for coordination with law enforcement agencies and educational institutions. The participants recommended all educational institutions should be declared smoke free-zone; CCTV should be installed in educational institutions for monitoring.

They further recommended that all institutions must hire a therapist for student counseling; healthcare SOP should be developed in educational institutions, and awareness programs should be arranged for students and teachers.

The federal minister urged all the participants to work hard for eradicating the menace of drugs from educational institutions and society to save the future of the people.