Muhammad Usman
Federal Minister for Narcotics Control Muhammad Azam Khan Swati has stressed that a network of students-led anti-narcotics societies should spread in all universities and colleges across Pakistan, along the lines of establishment of the GCU’s Anti-Narcotics Society.
The purpose is to raise awareness, report suspicious activities and create an environment in educational institutions that is free of illicit drug use. He was addressing online the Advisory Board meeting of GCU Anti-Narcotics Society established this year under his co-patronage with Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Asghar Zaidi. He said these societies should strictly screen and monitor suspicious activities around the campus, and report them to their administration and government agencies.
Mr. Swati appreciated GCU for taking a lead in establishing Anti-Narcotics Society to make its campus drug free, and asked other universities to follow in the GCU’s footprints and establish students-led anti-narcotics societies.
The Federal Minister said, youth was our future and our aim was to protect and nurture them so that they can lead a healthy and successful life. He assured that the Ministry of Narcotics will cooperate and support all initiatives of GCU’s Anti-Narcotics Society.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Asghar Zaidi stressed the need for a meaningful collaboration among student bodies and all agencies involved in narcotics control. He concluded with an untiring resolve to spend energies in sermons, surveillance and science, thereby adopting a multilevel approach in the eradication of the narcotics problem in Pakistan. He stressed that a scientific research should be undertake for factors underlying drug control and wished the establishment of the Institute of Mind Sciences.
Spokesperson of Punjab Government, Dr Zarqa Suharwardy, said drug abuse as a social evil which destroys families and social fabric of the Society. She emphasised the need to make educational institutions drug-free, saying that every individual would have to play his or her best role in preventing people from addiction and use of drugs.
MPA Ms. Talath Naqvi said for narcotics control, the society must provide alternative healthy and creative activities to youth.
Later, in this meeting a logo of GCU Anti-Narcotics Society was also unveiled.