KARACHI: Treasury and opposition lawmakers in the Sindh Assembly on Monday proposed to the government to conduct random drug tests in educational institutions on students to curb the menace among youth.
They also suggested that the drug tests on the students intending to get admissions in private and public sector colleges and universities should be conducted and only those tested negative should be admitted to the educational institutions.
Moreover, they also proposed that the students of high schools, colleges and universities who tested positive should not be given admit cards to appear in their respective examinations.
The proposals were given during a debate on an adjournment motion tabled by Pakistan Peoples Party’s Nida Khuhro regarding the alarming usage of drugs by youth in educational institutions.
Speaking on the issue, Senior Minister Sharjeel Memon, who holds the portfolio of information, transport and excise departments, assured the members that the proposal to conduct random drug tests on students would be placed before the provincial cabinet for a decision.
Mr Memon said that if any student tested positive, their cases would be handled with complete confidentiality and the drug test results would not be shared with anyone except their parents. “This way we will track down the source supplying drugs to the students,” he added.
However, he said that there was some resistance to the proposal by some corners, but the provincial government would make efforts to reach a consensus over it with all the stakeholders.
He said that the provincial government would explore other alternatives to ascertain drug use among students if the provincial cabinet did not approve the proposal to conduct random drug tests of the students.
Mr Memon termed the synthetic drugs a “delicious poison” and said that the menace had now reached educational institutions. “These drug addicts are suicide bombers and will ultimately involve in criminal and terrorist activities,” he apprehended.
Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho said that the increasing use of drugs was a very serious problem. “The students are easily buying synthetic drugs online and using them in their parties is now a common thing in the society,” she added.
She also talked about the growing trend of use of drugs among students for concentration during preparation of their examinations. “Later, these students become hooked to the drugs,” she added.