Speakers raise alarm about ‘Youth drug parties’ at GCU, Lahore

Lahore (Press Release): The speakers at an awareness seminar at the Government College University Lahore raised the alarm about the fast developing trend of use of narcotics in the youth’s social gatherings especially in the educated elite class where they are known to be popular as ‘the drug parties’, saying that terrorism and narcotics are equally devastating, and the difference is just in realization and visibility of effects in immediate or later timeframe. Eminent actor and social worker Rashid Mehmood chaired the seminar titled “Drug of Abuse” which was followed by Walkathon on the university campus. The seminar and walkathon was organised by the university’s Dunicliff Chemical Society.

In his key note address, Anti-Narcotics Force, Punjab Force Commander Brig Syed Mehmoodul Hassan said Afghanistan is the world’s leading producer and cultivator of opium, producing almost 83% of the world’s total opium and also the largest producer of cannabis. He explained that Pakistan’s geographical proximity and porous border with Afghanistan made it highly vulnerable to narcotics. According to UNODC World Drug Report 2014, 44% of Afghanistan’s opium/narcotics transit through Pakistan.

He showed great concern over the increasing use of drug in the educated youth especially those who belonged to the elite class. He said that the concept of national security had changed from narrow to broader approach which reckons both kinetic and non-kinetic security threats including non-state actors and narcotics cartels. He said that ANF had seized 12,809Kg heroine and morphine, 50,184Kg opium and 133,645Kg Hashish just in 2015 and arrested 1460 drug peddlers. However that he had always showed extreme restraint in sending drug abused student behind the bars because they were the future of the country, and their right place were universities, not jails.

The Force commander also educated the students about different kinds of prevailing Narco-Dugs, their negative effects on health and role of students in eliminating this curse from this sacred land. He called upon the universities’ administrations to appoint youth ambassadors for creating awareness in the society about the danger of drug use.

Talking about the use of narcotics, Rashid Mehmood said that the teenagers and adults were predominantly the victims of this evil and more vulnerable to it. He held modern life style the root cause of its spread among the youngsters. He said the culture of drug parties would have devastating effects on the society. He said that parents and teachers had a great role for saving the youth from drugs.

Department of Chemistry Chairperson Prof. Dr. Ahmad Adnan said that this seminar was aimed at sending a strong message of positive health, fitness and well-being to the students, encourage them to adopt a healthy lifestyle and ultimately build a drug-free environment.

Dunnicliff Chemical Society Advisor Dr M Jahangir committed that the Society would keep on organizing such kind of activities for the welfare of students and community.

Later, Dean Faculty of Science and Technology Prof Dr Islam Ullah Khan led a walk on the university to create awareness among students.