Members of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior expressed grave concern on Wednesday over the surge in drug abuse across Pakistan, warning that narcotics had penetrated schools, colleges and even households.
The issue was raised during a meeting of the committee chaired by Raja Khurram Nawaz. Committee members Sharmila Faruqui questioned why, despite the Interior Ministry's Rs26 billion budget, drug trafficking remained unchecked.
"Drugs are being sold in every street, and in schools, colleges, and universities. We need a detailed briefing," she demanded. The chair remarked that drug peddlers were often arrested but released within months.
Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) Director Brig Imran Ali informed the committee that campaigns were carried out in 263 educational institutions, leading to the arrest of more than 400 drug sellers and the seizure of 1,470 kilograms of narcotics.
In 2024, he added, a total of 361 tons of drugs were seized nationwide, of which ANF's seizures were 176 tons. He further stated that 19 gangs had been busted this year, and assets worth Rs7 billion frozen.
According to Brig Imran, the ANF operated five regional directorates, 33 police stations, and seven rehabilitation centres. However, he emphasised that the force still faced manpower shortages, scanner issues, and limited resources.
Committee members questioned why drug abuse persisted despite the operations. Qadir Patel pointed to porous borders in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, saying narcotics continue to flow in unchecked.
Nosheen Fatima raised concerns over unregulated rehabilitation centres in Islamabad, calling them "a scam to loot citizens." The committee directed authorities to submit detailed measures in the next meeting.
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