PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa caretaker Chief Minister Justice retired Syed Arshad Hussain Shah on Friday expressed grave concern over increasing trend of drug abuse in educational institutions, which he said was ruining the youth.

He expressed these views while chairing a progress review meeting regarding Khushhal Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Programme, according to a statement issued here.

He directed the authorities concerned to take curative steps in order to root out the menace of drug abuse from the educational institutions.

Provincial ministers, the chief secretary and administrative secretaries of departments concerned attended the meeting.

Divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners also attended the meeting via video-link.

The caretaker CM was briefed at length about the progress so far made on various initiatives under Khushhal Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Programme.

It was disclosed in the meeting that the steps taken under this programme had resulted in significant improvement in the governance system at grassroots level.

Similarly, the authorities told the meeting that entire system of issuance of arms licences had been made online, and a virtual system had been launched at prisons for the meeting of inmates with their family members.

They informed the meeting that e-domicile system had been initiated in Nowshera district, and the system would also be launched across the province by January 31, 2024.

Speaking on the occasion, CM Mr Shah termed Khushhal Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Programme vital for the wellbeing of general public. He said that all the stakeholders needed to have collective approach in order to implement the programme in its letter and spirit.

“Besides improving law and order and governance in the province, initiatives would also be taken against encroachments, drug abuse, adulteration, corruption and other illegal acts,” he said and added that people were facing problems related to revenue matters, which needed special attention.

He directed the revenue officers to dispose of revenue cases in time.

He also directed the deputy commissioners to personally monitor the revenue officers and take strict action against officials involved in malpractices.

Published in Dawn, December 23rd, 2023