An inauguration event for the 'Substance Misuse Prevention and Treatment Policy Implementation Plan' was held on Saturday at the Moin Auditorium of Dow University.
The event was a collaborative effort between the Sindh Health Department, the Pakistan Institute of Living and Learning (PILL), the Sindh Task Force on Demand Reduction of Drugs and Harmful Substance Control, and Manchester University.
Notable attendees included Caretaker Health Minister Dr. Saad Khalid Niaz, Caretaker Interior and Prisons Minister Brigadier (retd) Haris Nawaz, Caretaker Law Minister Umar Soomro, and Caretaker Minister of Education and Literacy, College Education Rana Hussain.
Professor Imran Bashir Chaudhry, as the Chairman of the Sindh Task Force on Demand Reduction of Drugs and Harmful Substance Control, presided over a meeting where various departments were represented. These departments encompassed the Directorate General Health Services Sindh, Deputy Director General Health-NCD, Deputy Director General Health-CDC, Sindh Education and Literacy Department, Sindh Universities and Boards Department, Sindh Police, Anti-Narcotics Force, Sindh Mental Health Authority, Provincial Lead HIV Control Programme, People’s Primary Healthcare Initiative, Aga Khan University, along with several other governmental and non-governmental organizations.
Within the framework of this project, a comprehensive strategy has been formulated to address the widespread challenges of drug abuse within the Sindh province. This strategy encompasses various measures focused on prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. Professor Imran Bashir, as Chairman of the Task Force, highlighted in his opening speech during the event that approximately 300 million individuals use drugs, with about one million engaging in tobacco consumption. Additionally, there are over a million individuals who, although not smokers themselves, are significantly impacted by exposure to secondhand smoke. He emphasized the alarming state of affairs in Sindh, prompting the formation of a task force comprising diverse departments in health, education, and law enforcement.
Dr. Salman Shahzad, a psychologist, highlighted that in Pakistan, the treatment accessibility for drug addicts remains below 20%. We aim to advocate against the stigma associated with addiction. 'Family programs' have been initiated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and our goal is to ensure their continuity within projects in Sindh. He emphasized that without a partnership between the public and private sectors, implementing effective measures against drug use within society is unattainable.
Education Minister Rana Hussain expressed concern over the proliferation of vaping (electronic cigarettes) stores in Karachi. When one shop is threatened with closure, the response is to demand the closure of all others first. Highlighting that students are proudly engaging in vaping as a trend, shopkeepers are now embellishing various flavours. Hussain urged the Health and Law Ministers to enact legislation against these shops and drug usage to ensure their permanent closure.
Brigadier Haris Nawaz, in his capacity as the Interior Minister, emphasized the imperative of curbing drug usage. He highlighted the closure of drug industries, particularly in Sindh and Karachi, along with the sealing of Karachi's border with Balochistan. Emphasizing the importance of the presence of all four ministers of the caretaker cabinet for strategizing effectively, he stressed the need for parents to recognize any changes in their children's behaviour and conduct diagnostic tests. Additionally, Nawaz urged parents and teachers to stay informed and spread awareness. He also announced plans to establish a task force against drug addiction, targeting a crackdown in police stations and within jails where a significant number of addicts are incarcerated.
Law Minister Umar Soomro commended Dr. Saad and his team for their efforts against drug abuse. Soomro highlighted the necessity for a task force and multiple strategies. Reports indicate that several police officers are providing security to ice factories, underlining the urgency to train our staff adequately. Furthermore, Soomro pointed out that parks in Sindh face encroachment issues, stressing the importance of addressing these areas as well.
During his speech at the ceremony, Dr. Saad Khalid Niaz mentioned that upon assuming the ministry, the awareness of drug use in educational institutions was evident. However, it became apparent to me when I visited the rehabilitation centre in Lyari and witnessed a young child there. The sights were profound, prompting me to inquire, and I discovered that the child had been introduced to drugs by their brother-in-law.