South police form task force to tackle drug use in educational institutions

In a move to protect students from the growing threat of drug use, the Karachi police, school representatives, parents and civil society members have agreed to adopt a joint strategy to curb substance abuse in educational institutions.

The decision was made during a high-level meeting chaired by South DIG Syed Asad Raza at the DIG House. The meeting was attended by South SSP Mazoor Ali, representatives of the Karachi Grammar School, Bayview High, Sitar and other educational institutions, as well as Farhan Isa of Isa Laboratories, school administrators, and parents.

DIG Raza opened the meeting by welcoming the participants and stressing urgent need for a collective response to address substance abuse among the students. Discussions focused on early intervention, awareness, rehabilitation, parental involvement and strong coordination between schools and law enforcement.

The meeting was informed that a dedicated unit titled S2SAW (Campus Security and Substance Watch Force) had been established under the South Zone police to strengthen communication between the schools and police, conduct surprise campus visits and help respond to drug-related cases efficiently.

The force’s uniform has been designed with input from schools to create a positive and approachable image among the students. It was decided that a large-scale media and awareness campaign would be launched starting with top schools and gradually expanding. Awareness seminars would also be held in collaboration with civil society to educate the students about the dangers of drug use.

The meeting called for the parents to play a key role in this initiative by granting consent for periodic drug testing and supporting the schools’ efforts. These measures would be integrated into school policies and admission forms to ensure long-term effectiveness.

Random drug tests on campuses would be introduced to deter drug use and identify at-risk students. Teachers would also be trained to detect behavioural changes or warning signs of substance misuse and refer those students for counselling.

The authorities emphasised that the students found using drugs would be treated as victims rather than criminals. Their privacy would be strictly protected, and counselling would be provided to them to support rehabilitation.

To streamline communication, a joint WhatsApp group between the schools and police would be created for timely reporting and coordinated action. DIG Raza referred to successful anti-drug strategies implemented in New York and Los Angeles universities, which could be adapted for Karachi’s educational institutions.

It was mutually agreed that schools, police and civil society must work together to dismantle the drug supply networks and protect the students from falling prey to addiction. “Students who use drugs are often victims. The real challenge lies in eliminating the elements responsible for supplying these substances. This can only be achieved through joint efforts by law enforcement, schools, parents and civil society,” DIG Raza stated.

The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks from Asim Ghani Usman and Isa, who praised the Karachi police for taking a proactive and collaborative initiative to safeguard the youth. Isa also reinforced the idea that this initiative was a shared responsibility between the parents, schools and law enforcement agencies.