Maria Ali
Pakistan’s fight against drug trafficking has been ongoing for years. Yet, the streets, homes, and institutions of the country remain flooded with illegal narcotics. What was once considered a fringe issue has now penetrated every layer of society — across class, gender, and even educational institutions. While occasional police raids and arrests may create momentary headlines, the structural rot behind the persistence of the drug trade remains dangerously unaddressed.
The recent arrest of a narcotics gang operating out of a call centre in Islamabad — with key members caught in Sialkot — is another chilling reminder of how embedded drug cartels have become in urban systems. The gang’s operations were deceptively simple: delivery boys would transport ‘packs’ to customers after orders were received through the call centre. Yet, what shocked many — though perhaps not all — was the admission by the ringleader that around 20 policemen were allegedly on his payroll, offering protection in return for money.
This revelation did not come out of the blue. A Punjab Police report last year exposed more than 200 officers for their involvement in various drug-related activities. The presence of police within the very networks they are supposed to dismantle underlines the futility of superficial enforcement. The truth is that Pakistan’s anti-drug efforts are sabotaged from within, making genuine progress nearly impossible.
We are far from establishing a drug-free society because the nexus between drug traffickers, corrupt law enforcement, and political backers remains intact and largely untouched. High-profile operations, like the CIA-led raid in July last year that unearthed Pakistan’s largest-ever cocaine trafficking network based in Lahore — one that smuggled drugs internationally and even targeted school and college students — briefly stirred national attention. But even that seismic discovery failed to jolt the government into sustained action or systemic reform.
There’s no denying that the rise in drug addiction, particularly among the youth, is a direct outcome of social and economic despair. A disillusioned generation, left jobless and aimless by failed policies and an ailing economy, finds escape in substances that are both accessible and affordable. But instead of reforming the ecosystem that enables drug proliferation, our current system often criminalises the victims — targeting the poor, the vulnerable, and the addicts — while the masterminds walk free.
These punitive approaches have been both ineffective and deeply unjust. The lives of thousands of young Pakistanis — potential doctors, engineers, teachers, and leaders — are being consumed by drugs, while their families suffer in silence. Communities are watching helplessly as addiction erodes their social fabric. Yet, enforcement continues to focus on optics rather than outcomes.
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The way forward must begin with deep, institutional reform. First, the criminal justice system needs to be revamped. An independent judiciary, honest investigation mechanisms, and prosecutors who cannot be bought off are the foundations of any serious anti-narcotics campaign. Secondly, law enforcement agencies must undergo thorough scrutiny. Internal accountability mechanisms should be empowered to root out corrupt officers, and whistleblowers must be protected rather than punished.
Most crucially, political will is the missing ingredient. As long as powerful individuals, including political figures, are allowed to protect traffickers for financial or electoral gain, all other efforts will be in vain. A truly national policy on drug control must address the influence of these actors, not just street-level dealers. Pakistan needs to treat drug trafficking as a matter of national security, not just criminal justice.
Equally important is preventive action. Awareness campaigns, school-based education programs, and affordable rehabilitation services must be scaled up. Our youth must be engaged in productive activities through employment, education, and community-based initiatives. When society offers no hope, drugs offer an escape — and that is a failure of the state, not just of the individual.
The international dimension also cannot be ignored. Pakistan lies on a critical transit route for global narcotics flows, especially between Afghanistan and Europe. Regional cooperation with neighbouring countries and international law enforcement is essential, but so too is ensuring that foreign pressure does not overshadow domestic reform. Counter-narcotics programs must be tailored to Pakistan’s own ground realities and must prioritize protecting the most affected populations.
Above all, we need a paradigm shift — not another round of token raids and hollow statements. The system that currently enables drug trafficking must be dismantled from the top down. Policies must be reoriented to dismantle the supply chain, rehabilitate addicts, and prevent future generations from falling into the same trap.
Pakistan’s youth are its most valuable asset. If we fail to protect them from the clutches of addiction, we are complicit in destroying our own future. Fighting the drug war demands more than seizing packets or arresting low-level dealers. It demands courage, honesty, and the political maturity to confront the uncomfortable truth — that the enemy is not just outside, but within.
Only with honest leadership, institutional reform, and people-centric policies can we hope to win this war. The cost of inaction is not just more addiction, but the slow decay of a nation’s soul.
