Islamabad, September 7, 2026: Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar, MNA and President of the Young Parliamentarians Forum (YPF), held an introductory meeting with representatives of Justice Project Pakistan at the Parliament House today.

The meeting focused on exploring avenues of collaboration to combat drug abuse and narcotics-related offences among youth. Both sides emphasised the need for creating meaningful opportunities for young people through prevention, rehabilitation, and human rights-based drug policy reforms that prioritise health, dignity, and proportionate sentencing over harsh punitive measures.

 

President YPF highlighted the importance of protecting youth from the growing menace of drugs and reaffirmed the Forum's commitment to advancing evidence-based policies that treat addiction as a medical condition requiring support and rehabilitation rather than criminalisation.  She stressed that young people who use drugs have the right to autonomy, access to healthcare, and freedom from discrimination and stigma.

 

Representatives of Justice Project Pakistan shared their ongoing efforts to provide legal aid to vulnerable prisoners detained on narcotics charges, advocate for fair trials and humane treatment, and promote reforms to Pakistan's drug laws to ensure penalties are proportionate to offences and aligned with international human rights standards.

 

Both sides agreed to maintain dialogue and explore future collaboration on initiatives such as effective legislation, parliamentary briefings, awareness campaigns, and policy advocacy aligned with national priorities.