Punjab Counter Narcotics Force (CNF) Director General Brigadier Mazhar Iqbal on Tuesday urged students, parents and educational institutions to play an active role in curbing drug use, stressing that demand reduction was key to eliminating supply.
He expressed these views while addressing a seminar titled “Youth Against Drugs” at Kinnaird College for Women University, organised by the Anti-Drug and Tobacco Society. During the visit, he also met Principal Dr Iram Anjum and faculty members.
Brig Mazhar said the CNF was actively working on enforcement of anti-narcotics laws and awareness campaigns across Punjab, adding that legislation was being introduced to regulate the sale of drugs through pharmacies, while a ban on nicotine pouches was also under consideration.
He said CNF offices had been established in all divisions of the province and teams had visited hundreds of colleges and universities for awareness drives. He added that no institution had formally reported drug use so far, urging students and administrations to report any such activity without hesitation.
The DG emphasised that informing authorities about drug dealers did not harm an institution’s reputation, rather it helped protect its environment. He said drug abuse was affecting the structure of educational institutions and society at large, and collective responsibility was needed instead of blaming the state alone.
Highlighting statistics, he said around 45 per cent of drug addicts in Pakistan belonged to Punjab, with the majority aged between 15 and 34 years, adding that students also constituted a significant portion of affected individuals.
Brig Mazhar Iqbal said the force had conducted 1,140 operations over the past seven months, recovering narcotics worth Rs2.34 billion and dismantling major networks of drug traffickers despite facing serious risks, including armed resistance.
He urged youth to reject drugs and actively participate in awareness campaigns, stating that the state was responsible for legislation and enforcement, but society must also fulfill its role in eliminating drug demand.
The DG added that the CNF was working under the Punjab Control of Narcotic Substances Act 2025 to strengthen efforts against drug trafficking and abuse across the province.