A 5.5-kilometre youth run was organised in Mohali as part of efforts to encourage young people to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle and stay away from drugs. The event brought together young participants and supporters around the message of building a healthier and drug-free Punjab.
Organised by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the run used sport and physical activity as a platform to spread awareness about the harmful impact of drug abuse. Participants took part in the run with messages promoting fitness, discipline and a life free from substance abuse.
The event comes against the backdrop of the Punjab Government’s wider campaign against drugs, which has increasingly focused on combining enforcement with public awareness and youth engagement. Sporting activities, awareness drives and community participation have been used to encourage young people to choose healthier alternatives.
For Mohali, the youth run provided an opportunity to connect the anti-drug message with everyday fitness. Running and other forms of organised sport can give young people constructive avenues for recreation while encouraging discipline and a stronger sense of community.
The 5.5-km distance also made the event accessible to a broad range of participants, allowing both regular runners and those taking part for the first time to join the initiative. The emphasis was not simply on competition but on collective participation and spreading awareness about the need for a drug-free society.
The event highlighted the role that families, educational institutions, sports organisations and community groups can play in addressing drug abuse. While government agencies have a key role in prevention and enforcement, sustained public participation is also considered important for creating an environment in which young people have positive opportunities to engage.
Punjab has been running a broader anti-drug campaign under the theme of “Yudh Nasheyan Virudh”, with sports and youth-oriented programmes forming part of the public outreach surrounding the campaign. Earlier events across the state have similarly used marathons and sporting activities to bring attention to the issue.
The Mohali run also reflects the growing interest in fitness-related public events in the Tricity. Running events have become increasingly popular among residents, with participants using them not only for physical fitness but also to support social and environmental causes.
Speakers and organisers at the event stressed the importance of keeping young people connected with sports and other productive activities. They said a sustained focus on fitness, education and employment opportunities can help create stronger alternatives to substance abuse.
For the participants, the run offered a simple but visible way to communicate the message that a healthy lifestyle and regular physical activity can play an important role in youth development. The event also provided an opportunity for people from different backgrounds to participate around a common social cause.
The organisers said such programmes can complement government measures by keeping the issue of drug abuse in public discussion and encouraging young people to become active participants in the campaign for a healthier Punjab. As Punjab continues its efforts to tackle the drug problem, initiatives that combine public awareness with youth participation are expected to remain an important part of the wider campaign. The Mohali youth run added another public platform to that effort, putting fitness and community participation at the centre of the drug-free Punjab message.
