I WOULD like to narrate how drug addicts and alcoholics have made horrible the lives of the residents of my street on Sanda Road, Lahore. A large number of elderly people and teenagers (mostly either working in shops and unemployed) have taken to addiction of drugs and drinks.

Every morning the street cleaner collects a number of bottles dropped in a corner of the street, mostly broken. Once after midnight, I was awakened by an irritating noise. I went to the terrace and saw a drunken person walking into the street. I couldn’t understand what he was actually saying but he seemed to be abusing a lot. He was also knocking every one’s doors. Nobody paid attention to him but it was horrifying and pitiable.

I also noticed teenagers talking very proudly about drinking every day.

Drunken brawls, abuses and then the screaming and yelling spoil the environment of other residents.

Many families have left this residential area but no one in the street dares take any action against it. People have been restricted to their houses after evening or night.

The number of drug takers and alcohol drinkers is increasing in which adults are a majority. It is having a negative impact on children.

If this is not stopped soon, it may reach my home one day. The government should take strict action and the police should honestly try to control the situation.

Opinion

Editorial

A new chokepoint
Updated 24 Jul, 2026

A new chokepoint

WITH free transit of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz blocked due to the US-Iran conflict, a new chokepoint has...
Improved rating
24 Jul, 2026

Improved rating

S&P GLOBAL’S decision to upgrade Pakistan’s long-term sovereign credit rating to ‘B’ with a stable...
More firetraps
24 Jul, 2026

More firetraps

WHILE it was already apparent that death traps dot Karachi, a safety audit by the Sindh government has thrown up...
De-escalation efforts
23 Jul, 2026

De-escalation efforts

WHILE the exchange of fire across the Gulf — and the wider Middle East — continues between the US and Iran,...
Time to integrate
23 Jul, 2026

Time to integrate

PAKISTAN remains one of the least regionally integrated economies in Asia. The trade figures for the last fiscal ...
Modi unnerved
23 Jul, 2026

Modi unnerved

DISCONTENT is visible in India. Delhi has been on the boil since last month. As thousands took to the streets ...