Sindh Government to Launch Random Drug Testing in Schools
By Bilal Haider :
Senior Sindh Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Sunday announced that the provincial government would introduce rapid random drug testing in schools as part of efforts to curb the growing use of narcotics among children and teenagers.
Speaking to the media in Karachi, the senior minister said drug abuse had become a serious issue not only in Pakistan but across the world, warning that the problem was increasingly affecting young people.
“Unfortunately, we have not taken narcotics seriously,” Memon said, adding that the provincial government viewed the spread of drugs among students as a major social challenge requiring immediate attention.
He revealed that several rehabilitation centres were being developed to help drug addicts recover, but admitted that the overall situation remained difficult for authorities.
Referring to a recent incident in Karachi, Memon said a child allegedly addicted to narcotics had opened fire on family members, highlighting the dangerous consequences of substance abuse.
“When these people become zombies due to narcotics, they go beyond anyone’s control,” he said.
The senior minister said narcotics had become a profitable illegal business for certain groups, stressing that dismantling the network involved in drug distribution was the government’s responsibility.
“I do not want to name anyone, but this is an entire network,” he stated, adding that merely naming individuals would only lead to social media memes rather than meaningful action.
Memon also mentioned a suspect identified as Anmol alias Pinky, alleging that she was involved in selling drugs and contributing to the destruction of lives through narcotics trafficking.
He urged the media to avoid glamorising drug-related issues and called on parents to play a stronger role in protecting children from falling into addiction.
“Parents currently carry the biggest responsibility in protecting children from drug abuse,” he said.
The minister emphasised that the fight against narcotics required a collective national effort rather than action by a single government or institution.
“I am not talking about one government alone, but the entire country,” Memon added.
The proposed random drug testing initiative is expected to become part of broader anti-narcotics measures being considered by the Sindh government to address rising concerns over drug availability in educational institutions and among youth.
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