Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Senate’s Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control on Wednesday expressed serious reservations over a rise in illicit drug use among teens.

The committee directed management of both private and public schools to ensure drug-free environment or else they would face closure. The body also ordered principals/head teachers to ensure zero tolerance against drug use.

Chairing the committee meeting, Senator A Rehman Malik said the alarming situation of drug addiction could not be tolerated anymore. He also said the body would lead a walk against drugs on Constitutional Avenue. He appealed to the media and civil society to participate in the event.

The senator added, “It was right time to take strict actions against drug dealers across the country; agencies must identify black sheep among themselves who were abetting drugs smugglers and dealers. Drugs were as much dangerous as terrorism. Punishment must be increased and necessary legislation was need of the hour.”

Malik proposed and recommended that it should be made mandatory for every public and private school, college and university to have a drug test of every student at least twice a year and the report should be checked by the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF). The educational institutions should take measures to keep a check on drug-related activities on the campuses. In case any institution fails to keep a drug-free environment, must be slapped with a heavy fine and punishment, the committee recommended.

The ANF director general gave a detailed briefing on drug addicts in schools and measures taken to check drugs sale to the students. The committee expressed grave concerns over the increase in illicit drug use in educational institutions. It was briefed that the data of drug addicts in schools was not available as no survey had been conducted in this regard. A survey conducted in 2013 by UNODC in collaboration with NCD and SBP, named as “Drug Use in Pakistan 2013” also did not mention such statistics.

However, the ANF authorities have taken strict measures against the drug suppliers.

Malik declared “war on drugs” which was fully endorsed by the committee. The committee also proposed to launch an awareness campaign with the help of civil society and media. He said that it was the need of the hour to fight the evil elements that were devastating Pakistan’s new generation through drugs. Malik said, “Afghanistan, on one hand, is supplying us death in shape of terrorism and, on the other hand, in collaboration with India was involved in drugs.”

Expressing grave concerns over the drug use in reputable educational institutions in the capital, the committee proposed stern action against such schools. After terrorism, drugs were the second big threat to the country’s security. A Zarb-e-Azb-like operation is needed against the drug mafia. According to a report, the ANF DG said 39 people died of terrorism while 700 lost their lives due to illicit drug usage.

Malik said that he was shocked to know that an eight-year-old child was found using drugs during a survey. In this backdrop, the committee recommended that more strict measures be taken by the government, and strict laws should be framed in this regard. The committee also recommended that Afghan Transit Trade must not assist the drug dealers and the Narcotics Division should be kept on board while planning and implementing the CPEC. The committee recommended that the ANF should be empowered like other forces and its manpower should also be enhanced soon.

Malik tasked Senator Mukhtar Ahmed Dhamrah to coordinate with the provincial authorities in implementing the recommended measures. The committee recommended that the provincial chief secretaries along with the police inspectors general and home secretaries should be directed to attend the next meeting and brief the committee about the provincial programmes/planning in combating the drug addiction in youth. The committee also directed the Narcotics Division and Interior Division secretaries to brief the committee about a baby taken to China from Islamabad as drug carrier. The committee directed that an investigation be initiated and the result be brought before the committee in this regard. The ANF DG informed the committee that total strength of the department was 3,148 and surveillance against drug suppliers was a challenging job. He requested the committee to recommend enhancement of staff.

While briefing the committee over a survey report, SASSI DG Maria Sultan said Afghanistan was the main producer and supplier of drugs to Pakistan and rest of the world. She suggested a special force against drug suppliers on the lines of Colombia. Senator Shahi Syed, Senator Saleh Shah, Senator Talha Mehmood, Senator Chaudhry Tanvir, Senator Mukhtar Dhamrah and Senator Shibli Faraz attended the meeting.