Drug traffickers are waging a silent war against Pakistan's future, undermining the very foundation of our nation by preying on its youth in educational institutions. To protect the potential of our future, a unified, collective effort is essential to dismantle this growing threat.

Narcotics Environment
Historically, Afghanistan has been the epicenter of poppy cultivation and the leading source of global opiates and illicit drugs. Poppy cultivation has persisted across all past regimes in Afghanistan, from the warlord era to the current Taliban regime. Afghanistan supplies about 80 percent of the global opiate demand, with a significant portion of the Afghan national income reliant on this illicit drug economy.

There has been a rapid shift in the Afghan drug landscape in the post-Taliban takeover in August 2021. Under mounting international pressure, the Taliban government announced a poppy cultivation ban in April 2022, followed by bans on precursor chemicals and cannabis in January 2023 and March 2023, respectively. 

The World Drug Report 2023 and Afghanistan Opium Survey 2023 by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported a substantial decline (approximately 95 percent) in poppy cultivation in Afghanistan in the aftermath of Taliban-imposed poppy ban. The outcomes are being hailed by western states as a positive change towards drug supply reduction from a global perspective.

However, in anticipation of a probable shortfall in opiate supply, poppy prices skyrocketed in 2023. The average price of one kilogram of dried opium was recorded at USD 408, nearly five times higher than the average price in previous years. Additionally, the opium yield from the 2022 harvest will continue to supply the global market in the near future. The Taliban regime incentivized the outflow of stocked opium from Afghanistan by lifting taxes and usher during a ten-month grace period. The sudden rise in opium seizures in Pakistan validates the findings of the World Drug Report 2023 and the Afghanistan Opium Survey 2023 by UNODC.

On the other hand, due to its susceptibility to detection through satellite technology, Afghanistan is gradually shifting from plant-based drugs to the subtler yet highly profitable production of synthetic drugs, especially methamphetamine. The gradual rise in synthetic drug seizures in Pakistan confirms this finding.

Primary trafficking routes into and out of Afghanistan include the Balkan route (Iran to Türkiye and the Caucasus, to Eastern and Western Europe); the southern route (Pakistan and Iran to Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Canada); and the northern route (Central Asia to the Russian Federation and Europe). The Balkan route maintained its status as the main trafficking route for opiates from Afghanistan. 
Impact of Narcotics Environment on Pakistan
The production, trafficking, and consumption of illicit drugs is a pervasive global issue, affecting people across all geographical regions, cultural backgrounds, ethnicities, social statuses, ages, genders, and education levels. Pakistan is no exception. Its geographical proximity to Afghanistan significantly exacerbates the drug situation within the country. Afghanistan, which shares the longest border with Pakistan—spanning 2,640 kilometers—creates heightened vulnerability to drug trafficking under the current narcotics environment. The trafficking of Afghan drugs into and through Pakistan continues to pose a serious threat to the health, safety, and well-being of its people. 

The drug trade originating in Afghanistan infiltrates Pakistan through rugged terrain and remote regions of the Pak-Afghan border, creating a web of drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) operating at both domestic as well as international levels. Poppy cultivation and synthetic drugs production in Afghanistan have largely been confined to contiguous provinces in the Southeast of Afghanistan near the border with Pakistan and Iran, whereas most of the heroin labs are in bordering areas of Afghanistan along Pakistan, i.e., Helmand, Kandahar, Uruzgan, Nangarhar, Nimroz, Herat, and Farah. Meth production and trafficking from Afghanistan has become a serious challenge for Pakistan. Farah and Wardak are the meth-producing provinces. Geographical contiguity creates vulnerability, which is fully exploited by DTOs, quite evident from Pakistan’s seizures in the bordering regions.

 Involvement of Foreign Nationals in Drug Trafficking. Since 2018, the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) has arrested 340 foreign nationals, including 184 Afghans, involved in drug trafficking, both in terms of inflow and outflow of drugs. According to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), there are 1.7 million declared Afghan refugees, whereas the actual figure surpasses four million. Afghan Drug Trafficking Organizations (DTOs) have family and tribal ties spanning Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran. Their geographical location, shared language, and cultural affinity create a conducive environment for Afghan drug smugglers. Additionally, highways and motorways across the region facilitate the transportation of drugs from Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) to various destinations.

 Afghan Transit Trade. The Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) of 2010 obligates Pakistan to provide transit freedom for Afghan trade. Karachi, as a major port city, handles Afghan Transit Trade (ATT) containers. However, due to certain loopholes, smuggling of contraband under the guise of APTTA has been reported, including the transportation of precursor chemicals to Afghanistan. Recently, an Afghan-bound container originating from India, carrying 9.5 million alprazolam tablets, was seized at Karachi seaport.
Key Findings of 2013 Drug Survey of Pakistan
National Drug Surveys are the most credible way of determining drug prevalence in society. Sponsored by UNODC, the last National Drug Survey was conducted in 2013 to determine domestic drug prevalence in Pakistan. Key findings of the Drug Survey Report published by UNODC are as follows:
National
 Approximately six percent of the population, or 6.7 million people, had used any controlled substance, including misuse of prescription drugs, in the last year.
 Cannabis is the most used drug, with a prevalence of 3.6 percent of the population, equivalent to four million users nationwide.
 An estimated 860,000 are regular heroin users, and 320,000 are opium users.
 The majority of drug users fall between 25 and 39 years of age. Cannabis use is highest among those aged 30 to 34, and heroin use is highest among those aged 35 to 39.
 The number of “People Who Inject Drugs” (PWID) is estimated to be 430,000 nationwide
 While men were found to use more drugs than women for most drug types, women are more likely to misuse tranquilizers and sedatives as well as amphetamines. 
 Around 4.25 million drug users in Pakistan are considered dependent on substances and require a form of structured intervention for the treatment of their drug use disorder.
Provincial
 The highest prevalence of opiate users was found in Balochistan, where 1.6 percent of the population uses either heroin, opium, or both.
 Due to its large share of the population, Punjab has the highest number of drug users and PWID, with 2.9 million people using illicit substances in the past year and approximately 260,000 people who currently inject drugs.
 Approximately 80 percent of PWID in Punjab share syringes regularly, whereas two-thirds report doing so in Sindh and Balochistan, and half in KP.
 The highest overall prevalence of any form of drug use is in KP, where 10.9 percent of the population has used an illicit substance in the past year.
Pakistan Synthetic Drugs Situation Assessment by UNODC Country Office—Pakistan (2021)
This report provides insights into the project titled "Enhancing Pakistan’s National Capacity to Analyze and Combat Trafficking of Synthetic Drugs and Their Precursor Chemicals." The project's objective was to assess the prevalence of illicit synthetic drugs in the country and disseminate the findings to aid law enforcement agencies (LEAs) in strengthening counter-narcotics efforts in Pakistan.

Key findings of the Drug Survey Report published by UNODC are as follows:
 Affected Age Groups. The age bracket that is most affected by synthetic drug consumption is those below 25 years. Societal factors such as domestic problems, marital issues, unemployment, and peer pressure make this group particularly vulnerable to drug abuse. These same factors also contribute to synthetic drug use among older age groups. At the other end of the spectrum, the population over 65 is smaller due to health issues, higher mortality rates, and a reduced population size. At that age, only criminals, traffickers, and hardcore addicts were reported to be involved in synthetic drug use.
 Distribution of Synthetic Drug Consumers by Genders. The gender distribution is predictably dominated by males due to various factors, but the low percentage of females consuming synthetic drugs may be attributed to underreporting, fear of social stigma, and other reasons. As with other drugs, nearly 33 percent of users are women, suggesting that the actual number of female users might be higher than reported. The third category primarily involves transgender individuals, whose low numbers are due to their small population size.

 Educational Sector Prevalence. Synthetic drugs pose a significant threat to educational settings, particularly universities and colleges. Private and elite institutions reportedly have the highest number of users due to factors such as greater purchasing power, lack of effective institutional control, and parental negligence. These factors also make affluent students more susceptible to substance abuse.

Although the number of institutions reported for synthetic drug abuse is low, this may be attributed to underreporting, driven by concerns about stigma and reputational damage, especially in the highly competitive educational sector. Similarly, reports of synthetic drug sales or usage within educational institutions remain minimal, likely for the same reasons.

 Transformation of Threat. The narcotics threat is gradually transiting from the physical to the cyber domain. The dark web and social media networks (SMNs) are becoming contact platforms for marketing, distribution, and selling/buying of illicit drugs. Similarly, to avoid financial spotting and monitoring by government agencies, drug trading is done in cryptocurrencies. This emerging trend needs robust cyber capabilities, including digital forensics and dark web penetration. The promotion of drugs through social media/WhatsApp to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries by Newly Merged Districts (NMDs) based DTOs has come to the limelight, warranting immediate actions in this domain.
Response Against the Prevailing Drug Situation
To address and counter the multi-faceted drug problem, including drug-related transnational organized crime, the Anti-Narcotics Policy 2019 serves as a comprehensive guiding document. While outlining several objectives, the policy emphasizes three main priorities: supply reduction, demand reduction, and international cooperation, all developed in line with international best practices.
However, combating the drug menace remains a shared responsibility requiring a whole-of-nation effort. In this context, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) was established in 2010 to enhance the effectiveness of the National Anti-Narcotics Policy through a coordinated joint mechanism. Currently, the forum comprises 32 law enforcement agencies and departments, chaired by the Director General (DG) of the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF).
The ANF serves as the principal agency in Pakistan responsible for enforcing the National Anti-Narcotics Policy through drug law enforcement operations, drug demand reduction initiatives, and active participation in international cooperation efforts.
 Performance Outcomes. Year-on-year collective performance from 2018 to 2024 by all mandated agencies of the Government of Pakistan in the counter-narcotics (CN) domain in terms of cases registered, criminal arrested, and drugs seizures is as follows:

 Contribution of ANF in National Counter-Narcotics Efforts. The ANF primarily adopts a strategic approach by maintaining deployments at key national entry and exit points, including border terminals, airports, dry ports, and seaports. It also conducts counter-narcotics operations in urban areas, along national highways and motorways, in border regions, and along the coastal belt. In terms of drug seizures, the ANF has significantly contributed to the national effort, outperforming all other law enforcement agencies (LEAs) combined, as illustrated in the graph below:

 International Destinations via Air, Sea Routes, and Courier Services. The graphs pasted below contain data pertaining to drug seizures at airports, seaports, and courier services in 2024. The data reflects preferred international destinations for Afghan-manufactured opiates and synthetic drugs.

 Poppy Eradication. Pakistan has maintained a “Poppy-Free Status” since 2001 through the joint efforts of provincial governments and LEAs. Poppy eradication is one of the key strands of Pakistan’s Anti-Narcotics Policy 2019, which explicitly states, “Maintain Pakistan’s poppy-free status and ensure zero-tolerance to illicit cultivation of narcotic plants in the country”. Accordingly, the Poppy Eradication Campaign is conducted annually, where ANF-led inter-agency coordination sets the groundwork for the campaign. The effort starts from monitoring areas with a history of poppy cultivation while also spotting and mapping areas brought under fresh cultivation. Resources are concentrated accordingly, followed by enforcement operations to eliminate poppy fields. In this regard, poppy cultivated on 415 hectares (1115 acres) in KP, Sindh, and Balochistan have been eliminated during the Poppy Eradication Campaign 2024.

 Educational Institutions (EIs) Focused Counter-Narcotics Effort. The increasing prevalence of drugs among youth, particularly within educational institutions (EIs), necessitates an immediate national response through a focused and coordinated effort. In this regard, a series of meetings with a single-point agenda were held with all relevant stakeholders, including federal and provincial law enforcement agencies (LEAs), intelligence agencies, relevant government departments, Vice Chancellors (VCs), and representatives from educational institutions and the Higher Education Commission (HEC). These meetings focused on discussing the root causes of the issue, identifying policy gaps, and addressing implementation challenges while outlining a way forward.

As a result, a comprehensive Campaign Plan for Drug-Free Educational Institutions has been developed and approved by the government. Recognizing this as a national cause, all stakeholders have agreed on the need for a "whole-of-the-nation" approach and an inclusive drive. Highlights of these meetings are as follows:
o IATF Meeting was held on March 26, 2024, with a single-point agenda, i.e., counter-narcotics campaign against drug prevalence in EIs.
o A meeting was held on March 28, 2024, with VCs, HEC, and Federal Ministry for Education on immediate interventions required for countering drugs in EIs.
o A meeting was held on April 8, 2024, with representative bodies of public and private schools and colleges for implementing measures in the counter-narcotics domain.
o The 1^st National Narcotics Control Committee Meeting was held on July 8, 2024, chaired by the Secretary Ministry of Narcotics Control (MNC) with representation from federal ministries and provincial governments to deliberate upon modalities for conducting an enforcement campaign in EIs. 
o In the same continuum, the Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control visited Headquarters (HQ) ANF on July 5 and was given a detailed briefing on the issue of drug prevalence in EIs. 
o A meeting chaired by the Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control with the Provincial Minister for Narcotics Control, CSs, and IGs is also planned for August 2024 on the Counter-narcotics Campaign for Drug-Free EIs.
o Following the above meeting, joint visits by Minister MNC and DG ANF are scheduled to KP, Sindh, and Balochistan to pursue the same agenda with provincial governments. 
o Subsequently, the Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control held a meeting of the steering committee on July 12, 2024, constituted by the Prime Minister for the purpose of finalizing modalities of the National Drug Survey. The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) has been asked to propose in this context.
 Outcomes of Deliberations. The above-stated collective efforts have yielded the following positive outcomes:
o Establishment of Anti-Drug and Tobacco Committees (ADTC) and appointment of focal persons has been completed in higher educational institutions (HEIs).
o Establishment and dissemination of HEC-established National Youth Helpline (NYHL-080069547), comprising male and female psychologists for student counselling.
o Prominent display of drug abuse-related instructions and awareness material in EIs.
o EI-specific targeted counter-narcotics operations have been conducted by ANF in 2024, resulting in the arrest of 71 street peddlers directly involved in drug supply in  o EIs while seizing 169 kgs of drugs.
o Joint Search and Sanitization Operations have been conducted by ANF in concert with other LEAs and administrations in 34 EIs all over the country.
o The special force component, ANF Vigilance Squad (AVS), visits EIs on regularly, liaises with authorities, and keeps areas under surveillance.
 Identification of Leading Trends. The concentration of intelligence and operational effort in and around EIs has significantly contributed to unfolding various dimensions of drug supply to students in EIs. These trends are being further investigated to inform future operations aimed at disrupting supply chains:
o Involvement of students and staff in drug supply to students in educational institutions (EIs).
o Involvement of foreigners in drug supply to EIs.
o Drug supply to students through social media networks (SMNs).
o Drug supply to students through e-commerce platforms.
o Door-to-door drug delivery by Bykea captains and delivery personnel.
o Involvement of females in drug trafficking.
o Emerging trend of using cannabidiol oil (CBD) and hashish oil in vapes.
o Prevalence of ecstasy tablets, with ongoing crackdowns on supply sources.
 EIs Focused Counter-narcotics Campaign. The broad framework of the intelligence-based, federally coordinated counter-narcotics campaign, supported by the o Higher Education Commission (HEC) and EIs, and conducted by law enforcement agencies (LEAs), is as follows:
o Targeted operations focusing on drug barons and their supply chains.
o "Name and shame" strategy, involving backtracking to apprehend the source of the supply.
o Awareness-building efforts through a soft approach, promoting education rather than harassment.
o Advocacy for self-declaration to avoid stigma, while ensuring full confidentiality.
 Essential Measures by EIs. EIs have been asked to ensure the implementation of the following points in concert with HEC and education departments, which will be audited by relevant authorities during the forthcoming campaign:    
o Implementation of HEC Policy 2021 in true letter and spirit.
o Instituting an internal probing mechanism to find out drug prevalence in EIs. 
o Ensuring adequate security measures and safeguards with EIs, including deployment of CCTVs, security lights, and security guards.
o Character certification of university staff, including local vendors.
o Engaging parents of addicted students.
o Promotion of sports and other healthy activities in EIs to draw students away from drug addiction.
o Immediately informing LEAs upon discovering any drugs or related information.
Challenges and the Way Forward
 Growing Drugs-Terrorism Nexus.  The growing nexus between drugs and terrorism can be attributed to the symbiotic relationship between various categories of organized crimes. In the case of Pakistan, Fitna al-Khawarij, FAK (formerly recognized as Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, TTP) is a leading terrorist organization. FAK operates from its base in Afghanistan under the protection of the Taliban regime while maintaining its footprint in the bordering regions of Pakistan-Afghanistan. To survive and flourish, FAK heavily relies on illegal financial sources, including poppy cultivation, drug trafficking and extortion money, for which it is active on both sides of the Pak-Afghan Border. This fact can be best explained by the geographical spread of drugs, opium poppy cultivation, and terrorism hotspots in Afghanistan and adjoining areas in KP and Balochistan. 
Recently, ANF has been targeted during Counter-Narcotics operations in KP, Punjab, and Balochistan, resulting in many casualties. Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for attacks on ANF setups twice. Moreover, ANF faced strong opposition during the Poppy Eradication Campaign 2024. 
The Way Forward
Fighting the menace of illicit drug abuse in society requires a “whole-of-a-nation approach” involving all stakeholders.
 Government Level Actions
o Federal and political governments to take political ownership for drug eradication campaigns.
o Effective federal-provincial cooperation in implementation policies at the ground level to accrue meaningful gains.
o Identification of system snags and addressing voids as a priority.
o Cooperation and coordination between LEAs to overcome institutional barriers and create synergy towards the national cause.
o Enabling government departments and LEAs through capacity building for generating effective and timely response.
o Drug awareness amongst students, parents, teachers, and staff.
 Societal Domain
o Strong awareness campaign–media support.
o Parents should share responsibility.
o Celebrities, media influencers, sports icons, politicians, and Ulema should contribute to the cause.
 Education Institutions (EIs)
o EIs to play an active role in implementation of the HEC Policy-2019.
o Initiate an internal institutional probing mechanism against drug abuse.
o Deployment of security tools, including CCTVs, security guards, and backup data.
o Character certification of all staff, including vendors.
o Immediate reporting of drug-related information to LEAs.
o Display drug awareness material at prominent places.
o Encouraging sports and healthy activities.
In conclusion, the pervasive threat of drug trafficking in Pakistan, driven largely by the opiate production in Afghanistan, demands an urgent and coordinated response. The alarming rise in drug use, particularly among youth and within educational institutions, highlights the need for a comprehensive strategy that involves government agencies, law enforcement, and community engagement. By fostering a whole-of-nation approach, we can combat this menace effectively, protect our future generations, and ensure a healthier, drug-free society. Together, we must remain vigilant and committed to eradicating the scourge of drugs and safeguarding the future of our nation.