KARACHI: The School Education and Literacy Department of the Government of Sindh has shown its grave concern over the sale of vapes and other prohibited narcotics at shops situated near school premises.
Upon recent visits by inspection and monitoring committee teams to several privately managed schools, it was observed that certain shops, tea houses or cafes operating in the vicinity of school premises were selling vapes and vape products along with other prohibited narcotics to school-going children.
It was said that the screening committees constituted within schools routinely conduct inspections of students’ bags and personal belongings as part of their monitoring measures and that during such checks vape devices have also been recovered from some students. On inquiry, the students stated that they purchased the vape products from nearby shops, tea houses or cafes.
It has been observed that school children, particularly those studying in classes nine to 12, are in the habit of gathering at nearby shops after school where drugs are also easily available.
Since these shops are located outside school premises, the school administrations find themselves quite helpless in preventing students from frequenting such places.
Therefore, the School Education and Literacy Department has requested the concerned authorities to arrange monitoring and inspections of shops to ensure that vapes and drugs are not sold to children, and that such shops are not located in the vicinity of educational institutions.
Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2026.
