Lost generation

The numbers are staggering and terrifying: nearly 17 million students in Pakistan -- aged between 18 and 31 -- are reportedly addicted to drugs. That’s not just a statistic; it is a generational emergency. Our educational institutions, instead of being safe spaces for learning and growth, have become vulnerable zones where narcotics slip through courier packages and food deliveries. In May, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) responded by banning all direct deliveries to students in federal institutions. While the move signals some institutional recognition of the problem, it is but a small response to a crisis that has spiralled far beyond isolated fixes. On June 26, the world marked the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The global campaign this year -- 'Break the Cycle. #StopOrganisedCrime' -- emphasised the need to tackle drug abuse not just as a public health issue, but also as a structural and criminal one. It called for integrated investment across education, healthcare, justice and economic systems to create long-term resilience against organised crime. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif acknowledged the growing drug abuse problem, but acknowledgements are no longer enough. We need action.

In Pakistan, over 50,000 individuals fall into addiction every year. Behind each number is a story of wasted potential, broken families and hollow futures. Our institutions -- from schools and colleges to law enforcement and healthcare -- have been unable, or u