By Gouher Ayub Wazir
Hayatabad Phase 5, once regarded as a peaceful and well-developed residential area of Peshawar, is increasingly facing a serious social and security challenge linked to drug addiction. Residents have raised concerns about the presence of drug-addicted individuals in streets and around residential areas. According to local residents, some of these individuals are allegedly involved in snatching, theft of iron items, electric cables, water pumps, household equipment and other valuables from houses and nearby properties. The situation has created a growing sense of insecurity among families, particularly during the night and early morning hours.
The problem is not limited to theft alone. Drug addiction is destroying the lives of vulnerable individuals and, in some cases, pushing them toward desperate and unlawful activities to finance their addiction. Residents have reportedly witnessed stolen or dismantled household and electrical items being taken away from the area. Such incidents not only cause financial losses to homeowners but also create fear and frustration among the community. If the issue is allowed to continue unchecked, it could further deteriorate the law-and-order situation and negatively affect the peaceful environment of Hayatabad.
What is particularly concerning for residents is the perceived lack of an effective and coordinated response from the relevant authorities and organizations. Police, local administration, municipal authorities, social welfare institutions and anti-narcotics agencies all have important roles to play in addressing different aspects of the problem. The community expects these institutions to move beyond occasional action and develop a coordinated strategy involving regular patrolling, identification of vulnerable areas, action against organized theft networks, rehabilitation of drug-dependent persons, and measures to prevent the sale and distribution of narcotics.
The residents of Hayatabad Phase 5 deserve a safe and secure living environment. The solution, however, should combine law enforcement with rehabilitation and social support. Drug-dependent individuals need access to treatment and rehabilitation, while those involved in theft, snatching or drug trafficking must be dealt with according to law. The silence surrounding this growing problem can no longer be treated as an adequate response. It is time for the concerned authorities, community representatives and residents to work together and take practical steps before the situation becomes more difficult to control.
