The following text was kindly shared with WFAD by our member organisation, Youth Council for Anti-Narcotics (YOCFAN), through its project, the Drug Advisory Training Hub (DATH), highlighting their recent activity with Minister for Information Regarding Drug Demand Reduction.

Three members delegation of Drug Advisory Training Hub (DATH) a project of (YOCFAN) met Ms. Uzma Bukhari Minister for Information and Cultura Govt. of the Punjab including H.E Mr. Yasin Joyia, Honorary Consul General Sri Lanka & Chief Patron DATH, Syed Zulfiqar Hussain, Consultant Anti-Drugs Narcotics Campaign and Vice Chair, Syed Mohsin. The main theme of this meeting is to highlight the problems of drug addiction among youth, awareness Campaign against drugs, treatment & rehabilitation programs and supply reduction etc.  Mr. Tahir Raza Hamdani Secretary Information Govt. of the Punjab also participated in the meeting.

Ms. Azma Bukhari has said that Government of Punjab is giving special focus to eliminating the menace of drugs/narcotics and strengthening rehabilitation programs for substance use disorders (SUDs). She expressed these views during a special meeting with delegation of Drug Advisory Training Hub (DATH) a project of YOCFAN. Both sides held details discussions on enhancing bilateral cooperation between Punjab and Sri Lanka in various sector, along with promoting people to people contacts. She further said that Punjab Government’s stance against drug traffickers is firm and uncompromising. She emphasized that Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz has made a drug free province here top priority, adding that there is no longer any safe space for those involves in drug trade. She said that CM Punjab issued clear directions to all departments regarding combat drug supply in the province.

Ms. Azma Bukhari said that protecting the young generation from the scourge of addiction is the top agenda of the Punjab government. In this regards, extensive awareness campaigns have been launched in educational institutions to prevent drug abuse.

Ms. Azma also appreciated the role of the Drug Advisory Training Hub (DATH) is also commendable in combating narcotics among youth, stating that government of the Punjab will continue to work closely with the institution to eradicate drugs and promote public awareness.

Syed Zulfiqar Hussain Director, Drug Advisory Training Hub (DATH) briefed about on-going activities in drug demand reduction programs, highlighted the new trends of chemical addiction among youth/students in the whole province and also highlighted the smoke and drug free campus interventions who introduced in Punjab 2016. Mr. Hussain said that DATH is a major stakeholder in prevention side and working with various government and non-government departments on drug issues. He said that Ice was major and most important drugs among youth in 2025 but now new young generation are switched to other new chemical and pharmaceutical drugs. Women also using all types of drugs with out any hesitation. Treatment facilities are not available to substance use disorders on government level.

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