ISLAMABAD: Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services (NHS) on Wednesday showed concerns over use of drug and tobacco by the students and sought a detailed briefing on the steps taken to stop their use in educational institutions.

During meeting representative of NHS informed that according to Global Youth Survey, which was conducted in five cities of Pakistan, 9.1pc boys and 4.1pc girl were found involved in use of drugs.

Senator Khalida Parveen said according to a report of CADD, in three model colleges 144 students were found involved in taking drug.

Chairman of the committee Sajjad Hussain Turi said the Supreme Court had ordered a ban on the sale of cigarettes within 50 meters area of the educational institutions.

“Even Sheesha (a banned item) is offered there. Cigarettes cannot be sold to anyone below the age of 18 years,” he said.

He said recommended strict action against an NGO which claimed that 90pc students in Islamabad educational institutions use drug and tobacco. Senator Mian Ateeq said such information created unrest among the families and should be taken seriously.

“In one educational institution use of drug was stopped because of the surveillance of Anti Narcotics Force,” he said.

The committee decided to call officials of Federal Directorate of Education and the Higher Education Commission and the chief commissioner to finalize a strategy to curb use of tobacco and drugs.

Published in Dawn January 5th, 2017