UNIVERSITY campuses are meant to be places where young people pursue education, build careers and broaden their intellectual horizons. Yet official data from Pakistan’s higher education sector presents a troubling picture. In 2025, authorities recorded 365 alleged drug-related cases across 58 institutions, involving students, female students and support staff. Islamabad reported 153 cases, followed by Punjab with 130, Sindh with 75 and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa with seven. While these figures represent reported cases rather than overall prevalence, they show that narcotics have entered educational environments and increasingly require action from universities and law-enforcement agencies.

The data, reported in May 2026 from official documents obtained by The Express Tribune, showed 365 alleged drug-related cases in 58 higher education institutions during 2025. Ten cases involved support staff, while the overwhelming majority concerned students. No faculty members were identified in the reported cases. The geographical distribution is significant. Islamabad’s institutions recorded the highest number, with 153 cases, followed by Punjab at 130 and Sindh at 75. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa recorded seven. These figures suggest that the problem is not confined to one province, institution or student population.

Female students also appeared in the official figures. Punjab recorded 28 cases involving female students, while Islamabad........

© Pakistan Observer