By Ali Imran
ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has stepped up efforts to ensure a safe and healthy learning environment in higher education institutions by strengthening drug prevention, awareness and control measures.
A meeting on Drug Prevention, Awareness and Control Measures in Educational Institutions was organized by HEC at its Secretariat in Islamabad to review reported cases of drug use and supply and to strengthen preventive measures, institutional monitoring and inter-agency coordination.
Chairman HEC Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar emphasized the importance of a safe and healthy learning environment, reinforcing the need for institutional responsibility, preventive awareness and coordinated efforts to address drug and tobacco abuse in higher education institutions.
Engr. Saleem Ullah Sohoo, Director General, Research & Analysis Activities (R&AA), HEC, briefed the participants on reported cases during 2025 and January-September 2026, along with the initiatives undertaken by HEC and higher education institutions to address the issue.
Representatives of the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police also shared updates on enforcement and prevention measures, emphasizing coordinated action, institutional accountability and awareness campaigns.
The meeting also proposed a roundtable with heads of public and private higher education institutions in Islamabad and members of their Anti-Drug and Tobacco Committees to review implementation and develop a coordinated way forward for ensuring drug-free campuses.
