UoE hosts seminar on curtailing drug use

6% of Pakistanis using drugs in some shape or form while 1% of this number is using heroin and hashish

LAHORE: A seminar on controlling recreational drug use was held at University of Education on Thursday. The Punjab Regional Director Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) Brigadier Khalid Goraya was the chief guest.

He highlighted recreational drug use in Pakistan, its effects and the efforts of ANF in eradicating this menace. Unfortunately, 6% of our population is using drugs in some shape or form while 1% of this number is indulging in heroin and hashish which is alarming, he said.

Recreational drug use is no longer a social, physical or mental disease. It has transformed into a problem of national security because it is effecting our youth which makes up 66% of our population, he said. During the last five years, the ANF has registered 1,421 cases and arrested 1,849 people in Punjab, revealed Goraya. He added that 246 people had been hanged in the anti-narcotics drive.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 2^nd, 2018.