Tharparkar needs a rehabilitation center that offers treatment, counseling, awareness, and above all, hope.
Partab Mukhi
I write to you not as an official or representative of any organization, but as a humble social worker who has spent time among the people of Tharparkar—listening, observing, and silently witnessing a crisis that is tightening its grip on our youth. With great concern and a heavy heart, I wish to draw your attention to a disturbing reality: the steady and alarming rise of substance abuse in Tharparkar. From wine; gutka and naswar to more harmful substances like hashish and even prescription drugs, addiction is no longer a hidden issue. It is visible—in the quiet desperation of a young man jobless and hopeless, in the distress of a mother watching her child slip away, and in the silence of families who have no one to turn to Recent data from national surveys show that around 6.7 million people in Pakistan use drugs, and tragically, most of them never receive any kind of treatment or support. In Tharparkar, the situation is dire. With widespread poverty, unemployment, and limited mental health resources, young people are falling through the cracks. The impact goes beyond the individual—it is affecting families, communities, and the future of the region itself What hurts the most is not just the existence of the problem, but the absence of solutions. There is no government-supported rehabilitation or mental health facility anywhere in the district. People are suffering silently, with nowhere to go and no one to guide them back to life.
Tharparkar needs a rehabilitation center—not tomorrow, but today. A center that offers treatment, counseling, awareness, and above all, hope. This one step can change hundreds of lives, reduce crime, restore families, and empower a generation that still has the potential to rise.
I humbly and sincerely request the concerned authorities to take this matter into urgent consideration. Your support can bring light to a place slowly dimming under the weight of neglect. Let Tharparkar know that it has not been forgotten.
Read: Sindh under an ‘Engineered Sleep’
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Partab Mukhi, based in Mithi District Tharparkar, is a Social Worker
