Drugs use on campuses : NA panel wants to hold heads of institutions accountable

ISLAMABAD: Expressing concern over the reported use of narcotics in educational institutions, the Standing Committee of National Assembly on Government Assurances has directed the Ministry of Federal Education and the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to devise a comprehensive policy to address the menace.

The committee asked the HEC to adopt a zero-tolerance policy and hold heads of institutions accountable where cases of drug use are reported. The committee, chaired by Nuzhat Sadiq, met at the Parliament House on Thursday. Discussing the implementation report on the assurance given by the minister for federal education and professional training on a calling attention notice regarding drug use in educational institutions, members observed that it was a moral obligation to save the youth from this scourge.

HEC officials informed the committee that the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) had been conducting regular raids, seizing 189 kgs of drugs from areas around educational institutions in Islamabad. Similar actions had been taken across the country, resulting in sizeable recoveries and legal action against peddlers. The committee was apprised that, alongside enforcement, the HEC and the ANF were conducting awareness and advocacy sessions to educate students about the harmful effects of drug use.

On the assurance given by the minister for religious affairs regarding encroachment on the Evacuee Trust property in District Nankana Sahib, the committee directed the adoption of a zero-tolerance approach towards illegal occupation of government land. It expressed concern that the lack of support from provincial authorities had emboldened encroachers, observing that timely assistance from the district administration could have prevented large-scale land grabs. The secretary of the Evacuee Trust Property Board briefed the committee on the encroachments and the action taken against violators.

Discussing the implementation report on assurances given by the minister for communications regarding the failure of the National Highway Authority (NHA) in the construction and rehabilitation of highways in Sindh, the committee decided to summon the NHA chairman in its next meeting. It also sought details of toll collection on highways in Sindh and the expenditure on their reconstruction and rehabilitation. The committee raised concerns over toll plazas being set up at short intervals, terming it an additional financial burden on commuters.

On unannounced load-shedding, overbilling by K-Electric, and power theft in Karachi, the committee noted that despite assurances from the utility’s management, the problems persisted. It decided to seek a comprehensive briefing in the first week of September in the presence of the minister for power and Nepra officials. Members observed that introducing another electricity provider in Karachi could create a healthy competition and improve service delivery for consumers.

The Committee also reviewed the assurance given by the minister for Petroleum Division regarding gas shortages faced by tail-end consumers in Malir, Keamari, and Lyari in Karachi. It directed the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) to complete rehabilitation of its network as committed. The SSGC representative assured the committee that the work would be completed by October this year, which would improve gas supply to residents of the affected areas.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, MNAs Asiya Ishaque Siddique, Raja Qamar-ul-Islam, Shagufta Jumani, Shahida Rehmani, Hameed Hussain, Muneeba Iqbal, Javed Ali Shah Jillani, Sofia Saeed Shah, along with secretaries of the ministries concerned and senior officials of relevant departments.