ISLAMABAD, May 13, 2025 (Special Correspondent) — During Tuesday’s session of the National Assembly, Pakistan Peoples Party MNA Sehar Kamran has lauded Pakistan's diplomatic success, noting that India faced diplomatic isolation amid recent regional tensions. She also commended the national unity forged during Operation “Banyan Marsous.”

In the same sitting, Ms. Kamran introduced the Anti‑Narcotics (Amendment) Bill, 2025, seeking to strengthen Pakistan’s legal framework against drug abuse. She requested the Speaker’s permission—granted with the support of Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr. Tariq Fazl Chaudhry—to table the bill for further debate. The House unanimously approved the motion to refer the draft to a standing committee.

Highlighting flaws in existing legislation, Ms. Kamran argued that loopholes have hampered Pakistan’s “war on drugs.” She urged the committee to introduce new provisions and tighten penalties. Key features of the proposed amendment include:

• Classifying drug use by students as a punishable offence.

• Linking university admissions to mandatory drug testing.

• Mandating drug‑awareness campaigns in schools, colleges, and universities, with institutions required to notify parents of any suspected use.

• Requiring parental consent for any medical testing of students, and allowing educational or legal action in confirmed cases.

• Revising curricula to include substance‑abuse awareness and providing specialized training for educators.

• Assigning responsibilities to parents, teachers, and students in combating drug use, and establishing counseling and rehabilitation services.

• Enforcing strict action against drug suppliers operating near educational campuses.

“The primary objective is to shield our youth from addiction and ensure a healthy, secure learning environment that supports their future,” Ms. Kamran said. She added that this bill builds on measures initiated several years ago to curb drug abuse in academic settings.

In a separate “call‑attention” notice, Ms. Kamran drew the Assembly’s focus to the crisis facing Pakistan’s cotton sector. She warned that an 18 percent sales tax on locally sold cotton, yarn, and raw fabric has driven farmers and manufacturers away from the crop, causing Pakistan’s global cotton‑production ranking to slip from fourth to eighth. “If this tax is abolished, we can reduce imports and save valuable foreign exchange,” she argued.

The Assembly approved her notice and directed the relevant ministries to submit a report. The Speaker affirmed that the government would prioritize resolving farmers’ grievances to maintain a balance between agricultural and industrial interests.