KARACHI:
Substance use is on the rise in Tharparkar. From wine, gutka and naswar to more harmful substances like hashish and even prescription drugs, addiction is no longer a hidden issue. It is visible — in the quiet desperation of a young man jobless and hopeless, in the distress of a mother watching her child slip away, and in the silence of families who have no one to turn to.
Recent surveys show that around 6.7 million people in Pakistan use drugs, and tragically, most of them never receive any kind of treatment or support. In Tharparkar, the situation is even direr. With widespread poverty, unemployment and limited mental health resources, young people are falling through the cracks. The impact goes beyond the individual — it is affecting families, communities and the future of the region itself. What hurts the most is not just the existence of the problem, but the absence of solutions. There is no government-supported rehabilitation or mental health facility anywhere in the district. People are suffering silently, with nowhere to go and no one to guide them back to life.
Tharparkar needs a rehabilitation centre — today. A centre that offers treatment, counseling, awareness, and above all, hope. This one step can change hundreds of lives, reduce crime, restore families and empower a generation that still has the potential to rise. The relevant authorities must come forward and let Tharparkar know that it has not been forgotten.
Partab Mukhi
Mithi
