The rampant use of drugs by young boys and girls in Karachi’s educational institutions has sky-rocketed ringing alarm bells as social activists and parents call for a unified strategy to combat the drug exposure menace, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Wednesday.

A survey conducted by police revealed that activists of political parties are involved in drugs sales in Karachi’s educational institutions. Top educational institutions are Defence College, Government Degree College Buffer Zone, National College and Baldia Government College, where this menace is spreading faster.

Police survey revealed that students are involved in using drugs like ice, crystal, cocaine and charas. The same is the case in the rural areas of the Sindh province. 

“As many as 450 male and female students had been arrested this year in connection with drug use,” the TV channel reported, quoting a police survey.

Police have also prepared lists of the drug peddlers and dealers. It has been reported that a four-member gang of drug dealers is active in Quaidabad and Karachi West while a five-member women gang is active in Liyari and Goth Muhammad.

In the Manghopir area of Karachi, two-member women gang of drug dealers supplies all kinds of drugs to students while a 12-member drug team including six women is active in Faqir Colony, the police survey revealed.

An 18-member drug gang including two women is active in Orangi Town Islam Chowk and its suburbs while 13 teammates including four women drug suppliers are active in Korangi and Gulistan-e-Johar.

Social activist Alia Sarim Burney talking to the 24NewsHD TV channel said, “Drug use among students especially female students will prove as a fatal blow for the coming generation and the society as a whole.”

Karachi Jinnah Hospital’s psychologist Dr Hassan Khan said the younger generation has been exposed to drugs and even female students are using “ice” drugs in large numbers.

Registrar Directorate Private Schools Rafia Javed also acknowledged that the department received few complaints about usage of drugs in the private schools.