Panel mulls ways to tackle drug issue

Senator Siddiqui proposes focal unit in ICT to combat rising threats to child safety

ISLAMABAD:

In response to the rising threat of drugs, abuse and the lack of child protection mechanisms in educational institutions, a Senate panel on Tuesday called for urgent, coordinated measures to ensure a safe and drug-free learning environment for children, beginning with a pilot initiative in Islamabad.

The Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights was presided over by acting Chairman Senator Irfan-ul-Haque Siddiqui, in the absence of Chairperson Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, who could not attend due to health reasons.

The committee convened to deliberate on the growing threats to child rights in educational institutions, particularly the alarming rise in narcotics use, sexual abuse and the absence of mental health and rights-based education in school curricula.

Senator Irfan-ul-Haque Siddiqui expressed serious concern over the availability of drugs in educational institutions, especially within the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), stressing that immediate steps must be taken.

He also highlighted the lack of cooperation from provinces in similar initiatives, stressing the need to first address the situation within the federal jurisdiction.

He questioned the effectiveness of current awareness initiatives in schools, noting that existing textbooks and curricula fail to convey the severity of drug-related dangers.

He urged the inclusion of a dedicated chapter on drug awareness at every grade level and called for the use of realistic examples to ensure the message is effectively communicated to students.

Moreover, highlighting deficiencies in teacher training and curriculum development, Senator Siddiqui said, "No curriculum can succeed without capable teachers. Training programs for educators remain weak, and this must be addressed immediately."

The committee agreed to establish a committee recommending that the Ministry of Interior designate a focal unit for ICT, including representatives from the Ministry of Education, ICT administration, Islamabad Police, Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) and the Human Rights Division.

The unit will oversee zone-wise implementation, develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for educational institutions and create a reporting mechanism to track drug-related activities.

Senator Siddiqui emphasised the need for a pilot model in Islamabad that could serve as a framework for other regions.

"We must create a role model initiative in Islamabad and streamline the process. This problem cannot be solved overnight, but a structured and targeted approach will lead us in the right direction," he said.