LAHORE: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rafia Haider on Wednesday directed all assistant commissioners (ACs) to take practical measures for prevention of drug use among students of schools and colleges.

Acting on the instructions given by the caretaker chief minister, she formed committees headed by ACs to monitor screening of students for drug use.

The process of taking the students’ blood samples for screening has been started under the supervision of the five-member committees, with the ACs concerned being their conveners.

The representatives of the departments of police, school education, colleges and health have been included in the committees as members.

The DC ordered random sampling of students of all educational institutions in the tehsils of Lahore and setting up special camps in the educational institutions.

She directed all concerned ACs to submit the screening reports from their respective jurisdictions to her office on a daily basis to review their performance. She said all possible measures would be taken to protect students against drugs.

Later, the DC ordered all ACs to develop an online system immediately for the monitoring of all fertiliser dealers dealers’ stores, their current stock and booking details.

She said the inspection of the fertiliser dealers stocks should be completed and reports should be submitted to her office by 8pm.

She said strict action should be taken on sale of urea fertiliser at an excessive price.

Based on the Girdawari report, she said groundwork should also be done regarding the process of distribution of urea fertiliser among the farmers as there was no urea shortage in the district.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2023