The Sindh government would conduct drug tests on children in education institutions, provincial information minister Sharjeel Memon said on Wednesday.

“Only the parents would be informed in case of a positive test result,” he said while presiding over the meeting of the committee on combating drug addiction.

“The child will then be asked about the source of the drugs and the arrest of drug suppliers, dealers, and their facilitators will be the top priority.”

President Asif Ali Zardari issued directives to eradicate the menace of narcotics after assuming the office, Memon said and added the president was “deeply concerned” about the rising trend of drug abuse.

According to the information minister, the parents and school administrations would be taken into confidence.