Senior Sindh Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Sunday announced that the provincial government would introduce rapid random drug testing in schools to address the growing use of narcotics among children.
Image: TheCurrent.pk
Speaking to the media in Karachi, Memon said drug abuse had become a serious global issue and was increasingly affecting Pakistan as well.
“Unfortunately, we have not taken narcotics seriously,” he said, adding that the Sindh government was also establishing rehabilitation centres to help tackle addiction, although the situation remained a major challenge.
Referring to a recent incident in Karachi, the minister said a drug-addicted child had allegedly opened fire on family members, highlighting the dangers associated with narcotics abuse.
“When these people become zombies due to narcotics, they go beyond anyone’s control,” he said.
Memon stated that narcotics trafficking had become a profitable business for organised networks and stressed that dismantling those networks was the responsibility of the government.
“I do not want to name anyone, but this is an entire network,” he said, adding that public discussion often gets diverted into social media controversy instead of focusing on the seriousness of the issue.
He also referred to a suspect identified as Anmol alias Pinky, alleging that she was involved in drug trafficking and describing narcotics as “poison” destroying lives.
The minister urged media organisations not to glamorise drug-related cases and said parents had the primary responsibility to protect children from substance abuse.
“I am not talking about one government alone, but the entire country,” he added.
