FAISALABAD: About eight million people in Pakistan are drug addicts and the number is increasing with every passing day.

This was echoed at a seminar titled “war on drugs: awareness session” organised by the University of Agriculture Faisalabad on Tuesday.

Dr Asif Bajwa, a psychiatrist, said either curiosity or peer pressure moved the youth to use drugs. “Currently 8m people are addicts in Pakistan and this strength is increasingly.”

He lamented that usage of sheesha was becoming common in youth and some of the sheesha sellers were using heroin in it. “Drug addiction is like terrorism which is responsible for taking lives of the innocent people.”

He suggested effective legislation on sale of drugs.

UAF acting Vice Chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmed said it was need of the hour to create awareness among masses about the menace of addiction which was playing havoc with the lives of people. He called for promoting healthy activities and sports in youth. He said the university had taken concrete steps against drug addiction on the campus.

He said vigilance committees under the director (students affairs) had been constituted to nab people involved in drug addiction in the university. Dr Ather Javed said awareness about the effects of drug addiction was a prerequisite to end the menace.

Dr Binish Asad and other also spoke on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, March 1st, 2017