Students, be ready: School life about to get more intense with surprise drug testing

KARACHI: School and college students in Sindh may soon have something new to worry about — surprise drug tests.

Provincial Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has announced that the government is preparing to introduce rapid random drug testing in educational institutions as part of a wider effort to tackle rising narcotics use among young people.

Speaking to the media in Karachi, he said drug abuse has become a serious and growing concern, not just in Pakistan but globally, and is now being seen more clearly among students as well.

The plan is being developed alongside efforts to expand rehabilitation centres, although officials admit the scale of the problem makes enforcement a challenge.

To highlight the urgency, the minister referred to a recent incident in Karachi involving a child allegedly under the influence of drugs, calling it a troubling example of how far the issue has escalated.

He said the government’s focus is on breaking the supply network behind narcotics, which he described as a highly profitable illegal trade.

Memon added that authorities are avoiding naming individuals publicly at this stage, arguing that it often turns serious issues into online noise instead of real accountability.

He also referred to Anmol, also known as “Pinky,” in connection with drug distribution concerns, calling drugs a “poison” spreading through society.

The minister urged media outlets not to sensationalise the issue, while also stressing that parents and institutions must work together to protect children from substance abuse.