Sargodha: The University of Sargodha on Tuesday launched Anti-Drugs Awareness Campaign and held a seminar to create awareness among youth in general and students of the University in particular about the cruel effects of drugs addiction.
The event was jointly organized by the Departments of Communication and Media Studies, the Department of Sociology and Criminology and the Divisional Police Office, Sargodha following the instructions of the Supreme Court of Pakistan to end the supply and use of drugs in educational institutions.
The speakers appreciated the campaign and stressed on the fact that citizens from all walks of life can play a part in discouraging drug-use among students. They urged the students to engage themselves in healthy co-curricular activities such as sports to help prevail a culture of positivity and discourage the use of drugs among the youth.
A sub inspector of Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) Zain-ul-Abdin, talked about the consequences of drug peddling that adolescent alcohol and other drug-related problems appear to be linked with poor family management practices, low family bonding and conflict, neighborhood deterioration, and economic deprivation.
Safdar Iqbal, Incharge Rescue 15 Sargodha informed the seminar that proliferation of drugs and psychotropic substances within Pakistani society, particularly in youth and university students, causing an upsurge of drug addict population, is another emerging challenge confronted by Law Enforcement Agencies.
Police has registered 28 cases against those who were involved in the drug peddling at academic institutions and about 2000 cases against other drug peddlers in all the police stations of district Sargodha during 2018, he added.
Khalid Hussain Tarar, the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sargodha city urged students to focus on their studies, indulge themselves in healthy co-curricular activities and help anti-narcotics forces in wiping out drugs from the society.
The Dean Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Dr Nawaz Mehsud called for elimination of poverty and ignorance which sowed seeds of pessimism in youths and led them to drug addiction. He urged the government, NGOs, civil society and the public to take serious steps to desist from drug use to lead a safe and healthy life.
Dr Mudasar Hussain, In-charge Department of Communication and Media Studies stressed to inform and educate the youth, particularly the university students regarding the consequences of drug selling and addiction.
At the end, participants of the walk vowed to enhance the awareness regarding consequences of drug pedaling and addiction. They urged police to take strict action against drug peddlers.
A large number of students, faculty and staff from various departments attended the seminar and awareness walk. During the walk, students were holding banners, placards with anti-narcotics slogans such as ‘just refuse, drug abuse’ and ‘say no to drugs’.
