A worrying statistic, revealing that up to 30 percent of Pakistan’s youth are involved in drug use, has highlighted the urgent need for systematic counseling in educational institutions from schools to universities. This warning was given by the Vice-Chancellor of Sindh Agriculture University (SAU), Engineer Professor Dr. Altaf Ali Sial, during an anti-drug awareness walk on Thursday.
The event, held at the SAU Tandojam campus under the Student-Teacher Engagement Program (STEP), aimed to highlight the growing menace of drugs faced by the country’s youth.
Leading the procession, Dr. Sial addressed the participants and described the students studying in Sindh’s educational institutions as a “valuable asset of the country.” He expressed deep concern over recent reports indicating that a quarter to a third of the country’s youth are victims of drug use, calling it an “extremely alarming situation.”
The Vice-Chancellor explained that this issue extends beyond individuals and families, having become a serious social, economic, and national challenge. He described it as a major threat to sustainable development and social stability.
Dr. Sial emphasized, “The responsibility of universities is not just to award degrees. The moral training, mental health, and positive character building of students are equally important.”
Echoing these sentiments, STEP Chairman Professor Dr. Muhammad Ismail Kumbhar said that drug addiction is “hollowing out the intellectual and moral foundations of society,” and the youth are the most affected segment.
Dr. Kumbhar stressed that superficial or temporary activities are insufficient to tackle this issue. He advocated for the regular integration of “continuous awareness campaigns, psychological counseling, sports, and positive extracurricular activities” within the educational framework.
The walk, which started and concluded at the Dr. A. M. Shaikh Auditorium, was enthusiastically attended by a large number of teachers and students, who carried banners with slogans such as “Say No to Drugs – Promote a Healthy Life.” Prominent participants included SAU alumni from Canada, Dr. Zahid Malik, Dr. Mir Sajjad Talpur, and Dr. Piyar Ali Shah.
At the conclusion of the event, the participants collectively expressed their commitment to promoting anti-drug awareness and pledged to extend their efforts from the university to educational institutions across Sindh to help nurture a healthy, safe, and talented future generation.