Beaconhouse National University (BNU), one of Pakistan’s leading liberal arts universities, hosted a landmark post-event ceremony to launch two transformative manuals aimed at addressing critical student welfare issues: From Risk to Resilience: BNU Substance Use Control Program and Campus Care: A Guide to Psychological First Aid. The high-profile event was graced by Senior Minister for the Government of Punjab, Marriyum Aurangzeb, and the Provincial Minister of School and Higher Education for Punjab, Rana Sikandar Hayat.
Vice Chancellors from multiple public and private universities attended the ceremony along with provincial secretaries, leadership of the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), the Punjab Counter Narcotics Force (CNF), and notable psychological experts, all gathering to endorse an initiative that confronts challenges long shrouded in social stigma.
And still, universities have frequently shied away from openly addressing the crisis due to concerns regarding institutional reputation and their perceived inability to tackle the drug mafia supplying drugs on campuses. Breaking this cycle of silence, BNU has become the first university in Pakistan to develop a comprehensive best-practice manual dedicated to establishing a drug-free campus, meticulously documented based on its own institutional experience. It took one bold and visionary decision to break the mould and prove that meaningful progress is possible, according to the university’s Vice Chancellor and former National Security Adviser, Dr. Moeed Yusuf.
Rather than relying solely on punitive measures, BNU’s framework explicitly highlights the profound importance of support and empathy before enforcement and punishment. Already having declared counter-narcotics as a key priority, the Government of Punjab has enthusiastically supported the effort and promised to implement the framework with BNU’s support. The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has moved to establish a dedicated committee under the leadership of Dr. Moeed Yusuf to replicate this model across educational institutions in Pakistan, ensuring a safer academic environment nationwide.
By leading from the front, BNU has proven that it is possible to create a drug-free environment in educational institutions despite the many challenges in a context where availability of drugs has only increased over time. Importantly, BNU’s approach is grounded in the understanding that substance use is fundamentally a societal issue rather than a problem confined to educational institutions.
The university’s experience highlighted three primary drivers of psychological stress that create added vulnerability to substance use: childhood and/or family abuse; traumatic peer relationships among university students and peer pressure; and a generational gap where Gen-Z students often feel overwhelmed, derogated, or neglected by faculty and staff at universities. While these issues may be known, universities have struggled to determine how to go about addressing the challenge. This is why BNU chose to create two best-practice manuals, according to the university administration.
From Risk to Resilience: BNU Substance Use Control Program provides institutions with a practical roadmap for prevention, intervention, and support around substance use, Campus Care: A Guide to Psychological First Aid equips educators, staff, and student leaders with tools to recognise distress, provide immediate psychological support, and provide timely referrals where needed. Together, the publications reflect a holistic philosophy that addresses both the symptoms and the underlying causes of student vulnerability and offer a potential pathway to create safer campus environments.
Dr. Moeed Yusuf, the driving force behind this effort, described the endeavour as a deeply personal passion project that evolved into a university-wide mission, bringing together students, faculty, staff, and leadership in pursuit of a common goal. He emphasised that as a university committed to public service and social responsibility, BNU is making these resources available not merely as institutional achievements but as contributions to the broader educational community.
The university hopes that its experience, lessons learned, and best practices can serve as a model for schools, colleges, and universities across Pakistan, encouraging open dialogue, evidence-based interventions, and a culture of care that safeguards the future of young people.
He shared a powerful message with fellow vice-chancellors, asserting that once an institution begins this journey with absolute determination, the process ceases to be insurmountable. He reminded the academic community that universities owe it to their students, parents, and the next generation to protect countless lives from being derailed. The foundational lesson embedded within the manuals is that enforcement must go hand-in-hand with constructive engagement, robust extracurricular outlets, and psychological support, but institutions must always lead with empathy.
The initiative received unanimous praise and strong support from all attending dignitaries, who lauded BNU for setting a national precedent. Speaking on the critical need for institutional courage and systemic reform, Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb commended BNU for breaking longstanding taboos surrounding substance use and student well-being. She noted that the university had developed an empathy-led blueprint that moves beyond enforcement alone and instead focuses on building genuine student resilience. She further reaffirmed the Government of Punjab’s commitment to supporting and scaling similar initiatives aimed at safeguarding young people.
Echoing these sentiments, Provincial Minister for School and Higher Education Rana Sikandar Hayat underscored the importance of creating educational environments that protect both the mental health and physical well-being of students. He observed that BNU’s best-practice manuals demonstrate how institutional commitment, combined with effective policy support, can help educational institutions tackle complex challenges that have often been considered difficult to address. Other vice chancellors and senior government officials similarly emphasised the need to move swiftly from policy formulation to implementation, ensuring the holistic safeguarding of students across Pakistan.