ISLAMABAD, June 29: Senior Superintendent of Traffic Police Muhammad Zubair Hashmi has called for collective efforts by the citizens and law-enforcement agencies to get rid of ills from the society like drug addiction and trafficking.

This was stated by him at a music concert held at the Open- Air Theatre organised by the Islamabad Traffic Police in collaboration with the Sunny Trust International in connection with the “Week against illicit trafficking and drug abuse”.

He said the drug problem was on the surge and had become a “serious threat.”

Every person should carry out his responsibility in a decent manner and rectify his attitude by sticking to civilised norms so that a positive change could be inculcated in the society in the present troublesome situation, he added.

The SSP termed the drug addiction as an ailment as well as curse and stressed the parents to keep check on the activities of their young children.

He assured full help of the police to help combat social evils in the society but, he added, primary responsibility lay with the parents to keep check on their children.

Mr Hashmi said the ITP was committed to ensure safety to the lives of the people on roads and contribute in the social welfare programmes on humanitarian basis.

“Depression and anxiety is increasing in the people and the only way out is that every person should shoulder his responsibility instead of escaping it,” he added.

Dependency may increase the problems, he said adding that patience and tolerance should be inculcated in one’s personality to counter the challenges in life.

The SSP said the purpose of this programme was to create awareness among the people about narcotics’ hazards to life.

Head of the Sunny Trust Dr Munawar Fiaz appealed to the philanthropists as well as common people to come forward and join hands in eliminating these social evils which, he said, might bring relief in the lives of the people.

“Drug addicts are source of problems for their families, neighbours, friends and others,” he said.

“Islam has also strictly prohibited the use of drugs and forbidden Muslims to offer prayers after taking the drugs, reflecting that this evil increases the distance between a person and his Creator,” he said, adding that each religion has prohibited using the narcotics.