- Parents have the greatest responsibility today
- Rehabilitation centers facing serious operational challenges
- The media urges not to glorify the issue of narcotics
KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Sunday said the provincial government would carry out rapid and random drug testing in schools to address the growing use of narcotics among children.
“Unfortunately, we have not taken narcotics seriously,” Memon said while speaking to media in Karachi, adding that drug abuse had become a global problem and a major concern across Pakistan.
He said several rehabilitation centers were being developed, but called the situation a “challenge” for the government. Referring to a recent incident in Karachi, Memon said that a drug-addicted boy had opened fire on members of his family.
“When these people become zombies because of narcotics, they are beyond anyone’s control,” he said.
The minister said many people had turned narcotics into a profitable business and stressed that dismantling the network was the government’s responsibility.
“I don’t want to name anyone, but this is a whole network,” he said, adding that naming people would only lead to memes on social media.
Memon also referred to a suspect identified as Anmol alias Pinky, calling her a woman involved in the sale of “poison” that cost precious lives on a daily basis.
He urged the media not to glorify the issue and said parents currently have the greatest responsibility in protecting children from drug abuse.
“I’m not referring to just one government, but to the entire country,” Memon added.
