Online Drug Sales Rising In Pakistan, Youth Increasingly Targeted: Report

Pakistan has witnessed a sharp rise in the online sale of narcotics, with digital transactions making illegal drugs increasingly accessible, according to recent reports.

Young people have emerged as the primary targets, not only as consumers but also as drug couriers lured by promises of quick money and an attractive lifestyle.

An editorial in Pakistan’s leading daily, The News International, citing the World Drug Report 2026, stated that traffickers are exploiting technology and global instability to introduce stronger synthetic drugs and aggressively expand into new markets.

Pakistan has recorded several cases reflecting this trend.

One prominent case involves alleged drug dealer Anmol alias Pinky, who reportedly supplied cocaine in schools, colleges, universities, social gatherings and affluent areas of Karachi.

Authorities believe online platforms have become the preferred marketplace for young buyers.

The report noted that the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) uncovered 31 drug traffickers and seized 140 kilograms of narcotics from 235 universities in 2024.

More recently, the Sindh government announced random drug testing in schools to curb increasing substance abuse among children.

The editorial warned that Pakistan now faces the same challenge experienced by many developed countries, where purchasing narcotics online has become alarmingly simple. It also highlighted the growing threat posed by synthetic drugs, which remain more potent and easier to conceal.

A 2025 rehabilitation review found heroin accounted for 48 per cent of youth addiction cases, while cannabis represented 28 per cent.

About 35 per cent of users began taking drugs during adolescence, and 46 per cent also suffered from depression.

A 2024 Karachi University survey found 44 per cent of college and university students admitted using drugs, with online procurement steadily increasing.

UNODC Findings

Reports indicate suicide has become the fourth leading cause of death among Pakistanis below 30 years of age.

Citing the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the report estimated that 6.7 to 7.6 million Pakistanis, nearly six per cent of the population, use drugs, while around four million require structured treatment.

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