8 million Pakistanis are drug addicts: Experts
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FAISALABAD: (APP) Experts at a seminar on Tuesday called for stepped up efforts to root out menace of drug addiction from the society as eight million people in the country were drug addicts.
They were addressing a seminar titled "war on drugs: awareness session" arranged by Young Development Corps (YDC), Senior Tutor Office, University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) at its Iqbal Auditorium which was attended by hundreds of the students.
Speaking on the occasion, UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said that there was a need to create awareness among the masses about the menace of addiction which was playing havoc with the lives of the people.
He called for promoting healthy activities and sports in the youth which was declining in the country. He said the University had taken tangible steps and was promoting no tolerance against drug addiction at the campus.
He said that smoking and sale of cigarette were strictly banned. He pointed out that the vigilance committees under the director students affairs office had been constituted to nab the people involved in any drug addiction crime in the varsity.
He said that most of the drug addicts started taking the drugs by seeking recreation, leading to this anti-social habit. Eventually, the body demanded frequent use. After that a time came, when one could no longer function normally without the influence of such drugs.
He said that the university was making the conscious efforts to promote the healthy efforts and create awareness for rooting out the menace.
Renowned medical doctor Dr Asif Bajwa psychiatrist said that eight million people in the country had fallen into drug addiction and the numbers were continuously increasing day by day.
He lamented that usage of Shisha was becoming common in the youth and some of the shisha sellers were using the heroin in it that led one towards a death.
He suggested strict legislations over the drug addiction and the drug sellers and pushers must be dealt with iron hands.
Dr Ather Javed said that the awareness about the effects of drugs addiction was prerequisite to end the menace. He said that the culprits promoting the drugs activities must be brought to the book.
