Punjab Moving Towards Becoming Drug-Free

August 17, 2026

Like the rest of the country, Independence Day was celebrated across Punjab, from cities to villages. The joy of the occasion was further heightened by the news that the state—once infamously dubbed “Udta Punjab” (flying/drug-ridden Punjab)—is now breaking free from the grip of narcotics. It is well known that the Bhagwant Mann government is deeply committed to making Punjab drug-free and eradicating the “leprosy” of drug abuse among the state’s youth. To achieve this, a concerted awareness campaign was launched, spanning sectors from the police force to education. The police conducted proactive raids, cracked down on all forms of narcotics, and put drug mafias behind bars.

In 2022, over 1,836 kg of cannabis was seized; however, enforcement efforts dealt such a severe blow to the trade that consumption was halved, with seizures dropping to 982 kg in 2024. The cocaine network in Punjab has been virtually dismantled. Police officials state that a combination of awareness campaigns and strict enforcement has effectively curbed the drug menace, with the police maintaining an aggressive stance on raids. In Jalandhar alone, the police have registered over 7,000 FIRs and apprehended more than 8,000 peddlers. While there were previously complaints that those arrested often escaped punishment, current data reveals that over 90 percent of the accused have been convicted.

More than 20,000 individuals have been rescued from the clutches of addiction through de-addiction centers. Citizens are also cooperating by providing information to the police, leading to cases being registered against approximately 3,000 drug offenders. A recent report by the Ministry of Home Affairs indicates that Punjab now ranks significantly lower than states like Odisha and Uttar Pradesh in terms of drug prevalence; the situation in Punjab has been brought largely under control.

Cocaine seizures in the state have dropped to zero. Due to heightened vigilance, the drug trafficking network is on the verge of collapse. Punjab is now poised to take the next steps toward progress. The provision of canal water to rural areas through a network of pipelines, facilitated by the Punjab government, will prove to be a milestone in the state’s development. Efforts to eliminate red tape in the industrial sector are bearing fruit; steps are being taken to ensure that investors and producers can obtain all necessary government approvals for their enterprises in a single instance. Undoubtedly, Punjab is ushering in a new era of prosperity.