The National College of Arts signed a memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as a declaration of being a Smoke and Drug-Free Campus. A ceremony was held today at the college campus where Syed Zulfiqar Hussain, Consultant, Anti-Drug/Narcotics Campaign from Drug Advisory Training Hub (DATH) and Registrar, Fakhar Ullah Tahir signed the MoU. National College of Arts (NCA) is one of the first universities in the Art and cultural sector that have been declared Smoke and Drug-Free.
Fakhar Ullah Tahir highlighted the issues about the usage of drugs among students and he said that comprehensive planning must be introduced about avoiding the use of drugs in educational institutions because our youth is the future of the country. Our college is proud and privileged that we have set a high standard in taking up strict measures to eradicate this menace from our institution as per the instructions of Principal Professor Dr. Murtaza Jaffari. Our students are an asset to the country and we are taking their safety as our prime concern.
Syed Zulfiqar Hussain said that about 17 institutions were declared as Smoke and Drug-Free Campuses and NCA among them was the only institution that adhered to all the International standards on drug use prevention.
Hussain said that the usage of drugs particularly, crystal ice, cocaine, and heroin are grave concerns for all of us and the problems of drug abuse cannot be solved by the government alone. Yet the government is aware of this grave problem and we are making all efforts to control the drug menace in society. According to the National Survey 2013 conducted by the Ministry of NCD and UNODC, about 6.7 million people are using hard and soft drugs in Pakistan.
Ms. Tanzeela Imran Chairperson, CM Women Development Task Force Punjab, Deputy Registrar M. Shahzad Tanveer, Coordinator Syed Mohsin, Dr. Shoaib, Dr. Akram, Adeel Rashid, and Naveed Ahmed were also present on this occasion.
