LAHORE: The Punjab government has decided to enact a strict legislation to purge educational institutions of narcotics and it is considering proposals to fix the minimum two-year imprisonment and maximum life imprisonment on sale and use of narcotics in educational institutions.

Chairing a meeting at the CM Office on Saturday, Chief Minister Parvez Elahi expressed serious concerns at the increasing trend of narcotics in the educational institutions and the meeting decided to make a legislation to purge the educational institutions of narcotics.

Since the manuscript of the Punjab Control of Narcotic Substance Act 2022 has been prepared, the chief minister issued directions for giving the law a final shape forthwith, stating that it would be approved by the Punjab Assembly. The law will include strict punishments on the sale and use of narcotics in schools, colleges and universities as effective measures need to be taken to control narcotics in the educational institutions.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Elahi said an independent sovereign institution would be established to eradicate narcotics and special courts be set up. He disclosed that anti- narcotics police stations would also be set up.

The chief minister directed the additional chief secretary (Home) to start consultations with all the stakeholders to make the law more effective.

Earlier, the secretary excise gave a briefing about the salient features of the manuscript of Punjab Control of Narcotics Substances Act 2022.

Former federal minister Moonis Elahi, Punjab Excise Minister Sardar Muhammad Asif Nakai, Adviser to CM Amir Saeed Rawn, Inspector General of Police Faisal Shahkar, Principal Secretary to CM Muhammad Khan Bhatti, former Principal Secretary GM Sikandar, ACS (Home), secretaries of finance, regulation and law departments, DG Narcotics Control and other officials attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2022