By Zahid Gishkori, Mujahid Hussain and Abobakar Khan
ISLAMABAD: A growing drug addiction crisis is engulfing Pakistan with nearly 15 million young Pakistanis are battling substance abuse. According to health experts and law enforcement officials, the problem is widespread, affecting both students and professionals with more than 25 types of illegal drugs and over 80 types of addictive pills, capsules, and liquid intoxicants being consumed nationwide.
In a detailed investigation, Hum Investigates has learned that 3 million students across the country are affected by drug addiction. Inspections of more than 3,000 educational institutions and over 2,000 offices revealed that the majority of addicts are young people. However, experts believe the actual number of users may be even higher.
The absence of an official, documented survey has not prevented experts from raising alarms about the situation. Several international organizations that shared data with Hum Investigates have highlighted that Pakistan’s government agencies responsible for drug prevention are not giving the issue the urgent attention it requires.
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Disturbingly, over 400 police and narcotics control personnel have been dismissed in the past five years for their involvement in the drug trade. Law enforcement agencies have arrested more than 370 drug-dealing gangs that were supplying drugs across the country via international courier services, with many of these gangs operating through social media platforms.
The investigation further reveals that dangerous drugs are easily accessible not only in major urban centers but also in smaller towns, villages, educational institutions, government offices, and even the country’s northern recreational areas. The social normalization of drug use has reached such a point that exclusive parties and events in large cities openly provide access to all forms of drugs.
Perhaps most alarming is the growing epidemic among students. A confidential report obtained by Hum Investigates indicates that one in ten students in Pakistan is addicted to drugs. Gangs of drug dealers are reportedly highly active within private educational institutions, leading to a rapid increase in student addiction.
One of Pakistan’s largest drug dealers, based in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, provided crucial insights for this investigation. In a secret meeting with the Hum Investigates team, he revealed that the drug trade is thriving not only in Islamabad and Rawalpindi but also in Lahore, Karachi, and beyond. He claimed that drug use has become a fashion, stating, “Life without drugs is now impossible for many.”
The complicity of law enforcement is a major factor exacerbating the crisis. A former police chief of Pakistan’s largest province, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “When police personnel themselves are using drugs and involved in drug dealing, how can they stop the growing menace in the province?” An internal report from the Punjab police reveals that over 250 officers are directly involved in the illegal drug trade, including senior officers engaged in transporting drugs like hashish, heroin, and methamphetamine (ice).
Investigations also show that international drug smuggling networks are now deeply entrenched in Pakistan. Recently, Punjab police arrested an international group known as the “Jordan Gang,” which had been smuggling dangerous drugs disguised as imported chocolates through courier services. According to Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Imran Kishwar, head of the Organized Crime Unit, this gang was distributing drugs across the country.
A prominent drug dealer from Islamabad and Rawalpindi made a shocking claim regarding the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), the country’s largest drug enforcement agency. He alleged that despite the ANF’s efforts to curb smuggling, their involvement in the drug trade is a significant obstacle to meaningful progress in tackling the issue.
As the drug addiction crisis worsens, the state’s indifference toward treating addicts is glaring. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), anti-drug agencies, and research institutions estimate that Pakistan is home to around 15 million drug addicts, a number that is rapidly increasing. Despite the overwhelming need for rehabilitation centers, only seven model treatment and rehab facilities currently exist in Karachi, Sukkur, Hyderabad, Islamabad, and Quetta. In Punjab, ten hospitals have model drug abuse centers, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has only one rehab center under provincial supervision.
The staff at these rehab centers is reportedly uncooperative with the media, and questions have been raised about the quality of treatment provided in privately-run facilities. Hum Investigates repeatedly reached out to anti-narcotics agencies and government officials to inquire about the budget allocated for drug prevention and why no national survey has been conducted in the last ten years. However, authorities have been reluctant to respond.
With millions of young Pakistanis trapped in the clutches of addiction and drug dealers operating with near impunity, the country faces a growing drug crisis that threatens the future of its youth. The urgent need for a comprehensive, coordinated response from both government agencies and civil society has never been more apparent. Without immediate action, the drug epidemic could spiral further out of control, leaving devastating social and economic consequences in its wake.