Drug abuse data presented by the national anti-narcotics watchdog in the country’s educational system is alarming, to say the least. Since last year, at least 9,885 kilogrammes of heroin, 1,440kg of hashish and 33kg of opium were seized in special raids conducted in educational institutions.
The Anti-Narcotics Force compiled a report on its campaigns, stating that it launched a four-phased anti-drugs campaign between April last year and March this year.According to the report, the ANF personnel arrested as many as 412 accused (drug peddlers) involved in distribution of drugs in 339 raids across the country’s educational institutions.
During these raids, the report stated, the ANF personnel also seized a kilogramme of cocaine.
Another report identifies public, private schools, colleges and universities in various cities.
Neither of the reports specified if students were among the arrested persons.
Drug seized in Kg
| Raids | Accused arrested | Opium | heroin | Hashish | Cocaine |
| 339 | 412 | 33 | 9885.62 | 1440 | 1.25 |
The four campaigns were conducted over a 10-15-day periods.
During the first raid, the report stated, about 136 searches were conducted and 155 persons arrested. This raid, it stated, yielded 23.15kg of opium, 44.7kg heroin, 1,274.7kg hasish and 1.1kg cocaine.
During the third campaign in November last year, at least 9,825kg of heroin and 54kg of hasish was seized in 109 separate searches in which 142 accused were arrested.
Recently updating a Senate panel, Senior Superintendent of Police Sajid Kiani claimed that according to police information, news about drug operations were blown out of proportions and no student was found directly involved in drug-peddling.
The panel had told the police to keep an eye on exclusive private schools “where children of affluent people indulge in such activities”.
The ANF shared details of measures taken by the force to engage youth in healthy activities, besides creating public awareness about drug abuse.
Such activities, it stated, included youth initiative programme focussing on 5,000 students from various educational institutions.
The ANF also invited students and heads of institutions in major cities to its drug-burning ceremonies.
In the report, the ANF suggested taking strict disciplinary action against managements of educational institutions, staff and students involved in narcotics use.
It also called for creating public awareness in curriculum, besides strict monitoring and vigilance programmes to curb the growing incidence of drugs use.
The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) Rawalpindi arrested a drug peddler for allegedly selling narcotics in and around education institutions of the city.
Sleuths of the force recovered several drugs including Ice, Ecstasy, heroin and hashish from the suspect, the ANF said in a statement issued on Saturday.
The force had been put on alert following disclosure of rampant drug abuse in the higher education institutions of the twin cities.On the special directive of ANF Director General Major General Nasir Dilawar Shah, it had launched special drive to apprehend criminals supplying drugs to students of educational institutions. Following days of reconnaissance, ANF officials swooped down on a man, later identified as Ejazul Hassan, in Sector F-10 Markaz.
Hassan a resident of Kotli in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, was arrested and 500 grammes of hashish, 25 grammes of Ice and 80 grammes Ecstasy powder were recovered his possession. The ANF said Hassan was allegedly involved in supplying drugs to students of educational institutions in Islamabad.Many countries are facing drugs issue and Pakistan is one of them too. The way it affects us, it is hard to swallow. According to one survey of UN about drug addicts, there are 7.6 million of drug addicts in this country which includes 22% of women as well. Now this curse has made inroads into our colleges and universities. Students with the age 17 or 18 are using one or the other kind of drugs. Islamabad is worst affected by this curse.The news of LUMS student took attention of people all over the country. Earlier declared as mysterious death was pertaining to the overdose of drugs. After that the news of raids on private universities of Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi also caught attention. In results of these raids several students and drug suppliers were caught. The dean of one university also admitted that 57% of their students is narcotics to at least one kind of drug. By this interior ministry has taken some bold steps. They have arrested some suppliers and some key people of this bloody business.Now this is an alarming situation for us as those the future of our country is based on are themselves based on drugs. We failed to convey hazards of dark side of drugs to youths. For them it is something that they find cool. Becoming cool is different from becoming a drug addict. On this issue university authorities and local print media should come in front and enlighten our generation about the ill-effects of this curse. It is so much important to differentiate between what actually drugs are and what young girls and boys think of it. Government should set up a positive epitome by punishing these peddlers with severe punishment so that our present as well as future generation could learn a lesson from it.Educational institutions in the capital are shocked by an NGO report that claims that 53pc of students at elite private schools are drug “addicts”, based on the findings of a survey of 44 institutions.
The Federal Directorate of Education (FDE), which looks after the affairs of public sector schools, is also unaware of how and when the surveys of public schools were conducted.
The findings of a secret report were shared with the Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control on Wednesday by Dr Maria Sultan, the director general of the South Asia Strategic Stability Institute (SASSI).
It claimed that 44 to 53pc of students at elite private schools use drugs.
“We conducted a survey of 44 educational institutions, including some public sector schools. Alarmingly, we found 43 to 53pc of students at elite schools – where students from privileged backgrounds are studying – were addicts. They are using heroin, hashish, opium and ecstasy tablets,” Ms Sultan said.
‘Secret report’ claims 44 to 53pc of students at elite private schools are ‘drug addicts’
When asked about public sector schools, she said 7 to 8pc of students over the age of 16 at model colleges were “addicts”, while only 1 to 2pc of students at public sector schools were addicts.
Ms Sultan said the organisation kept the survey secret and approached most students outside their institutions, when asked why educational institutions and their main departments were not taken on board and when the research was carried out.
She also refused to share the report with the media, in order to protect the identities of students and institutions.
“We are ready to share findings, as we did in the standing committee,” she said, adding that enemies of Pakistan were targeting the youth and students by providing drugs at their educational institutions.
Ms Sultan called for comprehensive legislation to counter drug suppliers.
“I’m shocked to learn what the NGO is claiming. We do not even allow cigarettes in our institutions – we don’t know when the survey was conducted or why teachers and principals were kept away,” said Model Colleges director Dr Tariq Masood.
The president of the Private School Association Zofran Elhai, who represents elite private schools in the city, claimed there was no trend of smoking in private schools. “It’s hard to believe that our students are addicts,” he said.
On Wednesday, after expressing concerns about drug addiction in Pakistan and in educational institutions in general, the Senate panel proposed that educational institutions be asked to conduct medical tests of their students.
During a Wednesday meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control, committee chair Senator Abdul Rehman Malik said it should be mandatory for every public and private school, college and university to hold drug tests of students at least twice a year.
The committee said schools and universities should take strict measures to keep a check on drug related activities on campuses, and should be made responsible for reporting to the Anti Narcotics Force.
Mr Malik said an institution that fails to maintain a drug-free environment should be faced with a heavy fine and punishment. He also expressed concerns about drug supply at reputable institutions in the city.
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