Governor orders VCs to make varsities drug-free

LAHORE:Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan has directed the vice chancellors of all universities to make campuses free from drugs and narcotics and take concrete steps to protect female students from harassment and provide them safe environment in universities.

According to details shared by Governor’s spokesperson here Tuesday, Punjab Governor/Chancellor has issued a letter to the vice-chancellors of all the universities of Punjab to strictly ensure the prohibition of smoking in the campus premises and hostels. He said that it is necessary to ensure drug testing in educational institutions for all those students who are accused of drug-related crimes. He said that such students should undergo blood test, dope test, hepatitis test and this initiative will help promote a safe and conducive learning environment for other students. He said that necessary arrangements should be made for psychological counseling sessions for such students who are found involved in taking drugs.

The governor also stressed that the entry of unidentified persons in the universities should be fully checked and entry of any person without identity cards should be prohibited. In this regard, the university should issue visiting cards to the visitors at entry gates. He said that it should be made mandatory for all students/faculty members/employees of the universities to wear ID cards.

He said that it is a matter of great concern that incidents of harassment against women are increasing in universities. He directed the Vice Chancellors to implement the Protection Against Harassment of Women Act, 2010, and the guidelines of the Higher Education Commission regarding harassment in letter and spirit.

The governor added that the same faculty members are teaching in the universities and then conducting the examinations/paper checking. Such discretion might risk unrest among students, therefore, separating these two teacher roles will significantly reduce the risk of teachers exploiting female students. He said that both the paper setters and the checkers should be external individuals.