Students to go through drug test at schools, says Sharjeel

In light of the orders of Sindh Senior Minister and Minister for Information, Transport, Excise, Taxation, and Narcotics Control Sharjeel Inam Memon, a Rapid Response Unit has been established in the Excise Department.

Officials said that as per order issued, the Rapid Response Unit will work 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The office of the unit has also been established in the office of the director general of excise. The unit will ensure operations against drugs, and the DG will head it.

On the instructions of Memon, a ban has been imposed on all kinds of leave, and transfers and postings of all officers of the Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Department to achieve the tax revenue target. Additionally, the working hours of the excise officers have been increased, requiring them to work seven days a week.

In this regard, the senior minister stated that the government is determined to strengthen its efforts against narcotics and improve its tax collection procedures. The establishment of the Rapid Response Unit is an important step towards achieving these objectives.

He said that by working round the clock, the unit would ensure swift and effective action against narcotics. Moreover, the Sindh government has prepared a plan to go to schools and test children for drugs and they will catch drug peddlers by interrogating any child who tests positive, he said.

Memon said every school, big or small, will go and conduct random tests of children. He said the bill is being brought to the Sindh cabinet, and the child who tests positive will be questioned and drug dealers will be reached. He said the focus of the government is going after crystal and ice and it will remove the menace of narcotics from the province.