Drug addiction has quietly become one of the most devastating crises facing Pakistani society today and our silence is making it worse. It is estimated that Pakistan has over 9 million drug users and the average age of first-time users has dropped to the early teens. Narcotics are being sold near schools and colleges openly, because demand is high and consequences remain low. The Sindh government’s recent crackdown on drug dealers is welcome. But enforcement alone has never won this battle anywhere in the world.
Pakistan has very few rehabilitation centres but millions of addicts. Without expanding these services, every arrested dealer is simply replaced. Countries like Portugal, which redirected resources into treatment and education, saw drug-related deaths fall rapidly. Rehabilitation, school counselling and public awareness campaigns must be treated as equal priorities alongside crackdowns. Enforcement alone will not work.
Arbaz Khan
Hyderabad
