Varsities witness sharp rise in drug cases

An alarming surge in drug-related cases has been reported across universities nationwide, with 385 cases recorded during 2025, including 143 cases - involving 10 female students - from nine universities in the federal capital alone.

Parliamentarians have sought a detailed report on measures being taken to curb drug abuse in educational institutions.

According to documents available to The Express Tribune, a total of 385 drug-use cases were reported across 58 higher education institutions during the 2025 academic year. The majority of those implicated were students, while the report also identified 10 cases involving supporting staff.

The highest number of cases was reported in universities under the federal jurisdiction, with 153 incidents recorded, followed by Punjab with 130 cases, Sindh with 75, and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) with seven.

The report further revealed that 28 female students in Punjab universities, 10 in Islamabad institutions, and eight in Sindh universities were found to be involved in drug use.

Notably, no cases of drug use were reported among university faculty members nationwide, while no female student drug-use cases were recorded in K-P.

According to officials from the Higher Education Commission (HEC), a formal monitoring mechanism had been established to combat drug use and smoking in educational institutions.

Under the policy, "Anti-Drug and Tobacco Committees" have been formed in 245 public and private universities and higher education institutions across the country to ensure enforcement of anti-narcotics laws, conduct awareness campaigns, and provide student counselling.

HEC officials added that directives had also been issued to establish similar committees across all university sub-campuses to coordinate both on-campus and external anti-drug efforts. These committees have been empowered to investigate and prevent the use, sale, and distribution of narcotics.

Meanwhile, the Standing Committee on Education has sought comprehensive details regarding reported drug cases, the mechanisms adopted for their prevention and control, and the existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) governing the prohibition of narcotics in higher educational institutions.