The Sindh government will initiate rapid random drug testing in educational institutions to combat increasing narcotics usage among children, Provincial Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon announced on Sunday.
Addressing the media in Karachi, Memon stated that narcotics abuse has not been taken seriously in the region, noting that drug addiction has grown into a global issue and a critical concern across Pakistan.
He explained that while the provincial government is currently developing several rehabilitation centres, managing the scale of drug abuse remains a challenge for the state.
To highlight the severity of the situation, the minister referenced a recent domestic shooting in Karachi where a child under the influence of drugs opened fire on family members.
“When these people become zombies due to narcotics, they go beyond anyone’s control,” Memon stated.
The senior minister noted that multiple individuals have turned the narcotics trade into a highly profitable enterprise. He stated that dismantling this supply network remains the primary responsibility of the government.
Memon declined to disclose specific names of those involved in the trade, stating that identifying individuals publicly would only lead to social media memes instead of addressing the core issue.
However, the minister specifically referenced to Anmol, also known as Pinky. He described her as a dealer involved in distributing “poison” that results in the loss of lives on a daily basis.
Memon urged media outlets to avoid glamorising the narcotics issue during their coverage. He stated that parents currently bear the most significant responsibility in safeguarding their children from falling into substance abuse.
