‘With 7 million addicts, Pakistan’s need for drug laws never greater’

Karachi

At least 45 percent of drugs consumed in Pakistan were smuggled from Afghanistan and around seven million people are addicted to drugs in the country. Drug addiction, which begins with the consumption of tea, cigarette, coffee, ‘paan’ and ‘gutka’ can later lead to addiction of heroin, opium and weed.

Greater awareness must be raised among the youth in this regard and everyone must play a positive role to help society get rid of this menace, stressed the Secretary Social Welfare Sindh, Sharique Ahmed on Wednesday at University of Karachi.

Ahmed, along with the Dean Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Karachi, Professor Dr Moonis Ahmar, member Syndicate KU Professor Dr Ahmed Qadri, former Chairman, Department of Economics KU, Professor Muhammad Sajidin, Commander Anti-Narcotics Force, Sindh, Brigadier Muhammad Abu Zar and Faheem Siddiqui, Bureau Chief Geo News Karachi, addressed a seminar on “Society and Drug Addiction” organised by Department of Social Work, at Social Action Lab.

The Dean Social Sciences, KU, Professor Dr Moonis Ahmar said those who have vested interest in the sales of such drugs were the true culprits: “No voice has been raised against this societal menace and millions rupees worth of ‘gutka’ has been sold in the country and the government has failed to take any measure to counter this societal destruction.”

Director of the Centre of Excellence of Women Studies, KU, Professor Dr Nasreen Aslam Shah, urged that government should make laws to cope up with the perils of addiction.

Shagufta Burney said that ‘paan’, ‘ghutka’ and ‘main puri’ are available at every nook and corner of the country which were consumed by individuals irrespective of their ages and those drugs also contributed to diseases like cancer: “No legislation has been made to look into this pressing issue.”

Professor Dr Ahmed Qadri said that drug addiction has led to youth destroying their health and countless families have been affected ruined due to this: “Our society must say no to drugs for nation’s growth.”

Professor Sajidin also emphasised on the importance of the greater awareness against drug addiction and dubbed it as drug terrorism.