Two-day workshop unites government, academia, civil society, and youth around a roadmap to be formally submitted to the state government
Budgam : A two-day conclave at the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), sponsored by Khyber Cement, has laid the foundation for what will become Jammu & Kashmir’s first dedicated policy document on combating drug addiction. IUST will draft the framework based on the workshop’s findings and formally submit it to the government in the coming time closing a longstanding gap in the region’s response to a deepening publichealth and social crisis.
Held on May 4 and 5, the workshop “Drug-Free Society: Call for Collective Action” was organized by IUST’s Centre for Good Governance and Policy Analysis under the leadership of ViceChancellor Prof. Shakil Ahmad Romshoo. Aligned with the national NashaMukt Bharat Abhiyaan, it convened policymakers, medical experts, educators, law-enforcement leaders, youth representatives, civil society organizations, and students. Dr. G.N. ItooDirector of the Centre for Good Governance and Policy Analysis at (IUST) joined senior administrators and dignitaries from across the region to anchor the dialogue.
Drug addiction in Jammu & Kashmir is not solely a health issue it is a social challenge that touches families, schools, and workplaces. Khyber Cement’s sponsorship reflects a view that combating it requires coordinated action from every part of society, including the private sector. “Our responsibility extends beyond building infrastructure it is about helping build a healthier, more resilient society. Supporting IUST in this initiative is consistent with our values, and we are proud that it will deliver a concrete roadmap the government can act on.” – Umar Tramboo, Director, Corporate & Strategy, Khyber Cement “Our youth are the foundation of the Valley’s future, and tackling substance abuse takes a community working in lockstep. By partnering with IUST and other stakeholders, we are putting our weight behind grassroots awareness and an environment where young people can thrive free from the shadows of addiction.” – Wasim Ahmed Khan, Chief, Sales & Customer Relations, Khyber Cement.Until now, Jammu & Kashmir has had no dedicated policy framework to address its rising substanceabuse crisis. The forthcoming document is intended to close that gap with actionable recommendations spanning prevention, treatment, enforcement, education, and community engagement a first reference point for sustained, coordinated action by the state.
Khyber Cement’s role in this conclave is part of a longer pattern of investment in Jammu &Kashmir that goes well beyond its core business. The company has consistently supported youth empowerment, education, healthcare, and grassroots sports programs across the region. By taking on the cause of a drugfree society, Khyber Cement is reinforcing what it has long stood for a Jammu &Kashmirrooted enterprise that sees its success as inseparable from the wellbeing of the people and an invitation to other organizations to commit at the same scale.
