GCU holds seminar on Int’l Day against Drug Abuse

LAHORE : GC University (GCU) Lahore celebrated the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on Saturday.

In this connection an awareness raising seminar was organized to stimulate a sense of responsibility and understanding among the students.

According to a press release, Prof Dr Shakil Malik, Eminent Neuropsychatrist, Sussex University UK, MPA Talath Fatima Naqvi, MPA Zainab Umair, Senator Dr Zarqa Taimoor Suharwardey and the Vice Chancellor Government College University Lahore Prof Dr Asghar Zaidi participated in the session. Force Commander Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) Regional Directorate Punjab Brig Rashid Minhas was the chief guest of the ceremony.

All the speakers stressed that drug abuse prevention was crucial for the sustainability and development of the country. MPA Talath Fatima Naqvi and MPA Zainab Umair said that the menace of drug addiction was as dangerous as terrorism because both kill the human beings.

Senator Dr Zarqa Taimur Suharwardy said that the problem of drug addiction starts from one's home. So, we have to uproot the issue from its initial stages.

Brig. Rashid Minhas emphasized on the importance of observation and reiterated that it is the individual and collective responsibility of everyone to join hands with Anti-Narcotics Force to eliminate this evil from our society. He further added that the magnitude of drug menace not only undermines global public health, socio-economic synopsis and international stability but it has also become an issue of national security for Pakistan.

Prof Dr Asghar Zaidi said that keeping in view the legacy of leadership, GCU took upon itself the challenge of making its campus drug free and initiated its program with the slogan “Drug abuse prevention not through Sermons but by Science”. He told that an elaborated programme of prevention will be rolled out incorporating latest scientific technology being used in centers of excellence in the West.

The programme is aimed at primary drug abuse prevention by developing psycho-social resilience and set of leadership skills in students needed to combat the stresses and strains of contemporary society.

Vice Chancellor and other guests appreciated the efforts of Anti-Narcotics Force Punjab for combating the supply

and demand reduction of illicit narcotic drugs nationwide.

The ceremony concluded with an awareness walk led by Prof Dr Asghar Zaidi and Brig Rashid Minhas.