The University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Lahore arranged an awareness walk and a seminar on ‘Building a Drug-Free Campus Culture’ in connection with the upcoming ‘International Day against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking’ here Wednesday.
Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Masood Rabbani first led the walk and then chaired the seminar while Director Drugs Advisory Training Hub Syed Zulfiqar Hussain, Dean Faculty of Veterinary Science Prof Dr Kamran Ashraf, Dean Faculty of Biosciences Prof Dr Habib-ur-Rehman, Director UVAS Students Affairs Dr Muhammad Oneeb, faculty members and students participated. The walk started from the Vice-Chancellor Office and culminated in front of Main Lawn after taking a round of campus with the aim to promote a healthier and drug-free campus.
Addressing the seminar, the Vice-Chancellor said that people usually turn to substances (drugs) as an escape from different worries/pressures of life. There exists a generational gap in how the young generation and their elders think about and approach today’s issues, Prof Rabbani said and stressed on bridging this gap instead of remaining in a state of denial and ignoring the problem. He also called for creating harmony in society and discouraging those who try to promote disharmony.
Syed Zulfiqar Hussain, director of the Drug Advisory Training Hub, gave a presentation on ‘New Trends of Addiction among Youth: Building a Drug-Free Campus Culture’. He said that early prevention is essential as is the proverb ‘prevention is better than cure’. Speaking on different aspects of the topic, he also highlighted the importance of enhanced ability of teachers and students to prevent, identify and respond to drug related issues effectively.