Federal Minister for Narcotics Control, Lieutenant General Salahuddin Tirmizi (retd) on Tuesday expressed grave concern over the prevailing trend of the synthetic drugs use amongst youth of the country. Chairing an inter-ministerial meeting on Tuesday, he took cognizance of the prevailing trend of the synthetic drugs use amongst youth of the country particularly in educational institutions. The minister termed it a serious challenge to the Ministry of Narcotics Control (MNC). He said that the ministry should be determined to leave no stone unturned to control the alarming situation and curb the menace to make Pakistan a drug free country.
Secretary MNC Iqbal Mehmood informed that the ministry has, under the specific directions of the minister, already chalked out a comprehensive preventive strategy under its mass awareness campaign against drugs abuse. The ministry is working in close collaboration with the other law enforcement agencies eg National Highways and Motorways Police (NH&MP), police, Islamabad Traffic Police, etc, to supplement the knowledge of the field officers about drugs' hazards and to sensitize them about severity of the prevailing drug situation across the country particularly the young generation.
The ministry will also impart necessary trainings regarding drugs awareness and its fatal hazards to the mobile awareness teams of the NH&MP so that they can also disseminate awareness amongst youth across the country. Moreover, Pakistan Girls Guides Association (PGGA), Islamabad, has also been engaged so that their senior guides can be equipped with basic awareness against drug types and their hazardous impacts enabling them to sensitize the students of their respective schools and colleges.
The minister was further briefed that the ministry will start its awareness lectures and presentations primarily in all educational institutions including schools, colleges and universities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi in the next month. In this regard, the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE), Islamabad, has already been taken on board. This programme will be extended to the educational institutions of all the provinces in due course of time. It was also told that the regional directorates of ANF in all the provinces have also actively been engaged in raising awareness of the masses against drugs hazards.
The minister appreciated the endeavours of both the officers and officials concerned of the ministry, saying that untiring efforts are required to be put in so that the vision of Pakistan being a drug free country can be translated into reality. He further directed to engage the relevant non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that are working on prevention, treatment and rehabilitation to hold seminars and workshops in colleges and universities across the country.
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