The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday directed authorities to strengthen oversight mechanisms to curb the use and distribution of narcotics in educational institutions across the federal capital.

Justice Raja Inaam Ameen Minhas issued the instructions while hearing a petition seeking measures against drug proliferation in schools, colleges, and universities. The court ordered the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to include representatives from the Anti-Narcotics Force and police in its monitoring committee to ensure coordinated enforcement.

The court also directed the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training to obtain federal approval for proposed anti-drug regulations aimed at educational institutions.

During the hearing, petitioner Advocate Kashif Malik alleged that delivery riders were being used to transport narcotics into campuses. Justice Minhas noted that concerns about drug supply through delivery personnel had been raised earlier in the proceedings.

HEC officials informed the court that institutions had designated specific entry points for riders and delivery staff and introduced preliminary security checks before allowing access.

Despite these measures, the court ordered regular monitoring and directed authorities to submit compliance reports. The Islamabad administration and police were further instructed to intensify surveillance and anti-drug operations.

The petitioner also told the court that narcotics use was no longer confined to universities and colleges, claiming that students as young as seventh and eighth grade were becoming involved. The court was additionally informed that drugs were allegedly available at small neighborhood shops in Islamabad.