Government College University (GCU) Lahore student Faizan Ahmed Faiz has completed a major endurance challenge by running from Lahore to Skardu, covering around 1,100 kilometres during a journey that lasted 22 days according to multiple media reports. His long run was not only a test of physical strength but also carried an important message for young people about staying away from drugs and choosing healthier activities.
Faizan, who is also a member of the Falcon Triathlon Club, reached Skardu on September 17 after travelling through some of the toughest routes in Pakistan. His journey took him from the flat areas of Punjab to the hills and mountains of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and then into Gilgit-Baltistan. Along the way, he passed through several major towns and difficult mountain areas before reaching his final destination.
The run was designed as more than just a sporting achievement. Faizan wanted to use his endurance challenge to spread awareness about the harmful effects of drug abuse, especially among young people. He encouraged people to take part in sports and other positive activities instead of becoming involved in substance use.
A Long Journey From Lahore to Skardu
Faizan started his journey from Lahore and moved north through a route that covered a wide range of landscapes. His path included Gujranwala, Jhelum, Rawalpindi and Islamabad before he continued towards Abbottabad, Naran, Babusar Top, Chilas and Raikot. From there, he made his way towards Skardu.
The route was difficult because it was not a simple road run. Faizan had to deal with long distances, steep climbs, rough roads and changing weather. The journey began in the plains and gradually moved into higher and colder areas, making the challenge harder as he moved north.
Crossing Punjab was physically demanding, but the mountain section brought a different level of difficulty. According to details shared after the journey, extreme heat between Lahore and Jhelum was one of the major challenges. The climb from Naran towards Babusar Top was another especially tough part because of the sharp increase in altitude and the demanding road conditions.
The full route showed how different Pakistan’s geography can be. Within a single journey, Faizan moved through busy cities, rural areas, long roads, mountain valleys and high-altitude regions. This required not only physical energy but also strong planning and regular support.
Focus on Young People and Drug Abuse
One of the main aims of Faizan’s run was to deliver a message against drug abuse. The athlete used his journey to speak about the dangers of drugs and the need for young people to focus on healthier lifestyles.
Drug abuse can affect individuals, families and communities. By connecting his campaign with sports, Faizan tried to show young people that physical activity can provide a positive and useful direction. His message focused on staying active, taking part in sports and avoiding habits that can damage a person’s future.
During the journey, he also interacted with communities along the route. These meetings gave him an opportunity to share his anti-drug message beyond his university and sporting circle. Media reports said he encouraged young people to choose constructive activities and maintain healthier lifestyles.
For Faizan, running was therefore a way to reach people with a message rather than simply completing a difficult athletic task. The long-distance challenge attracted attention because it combined endurance sport with a social cause.
Journey Dedicated to Pakistan’s Martyrs
Faizan also dedicated his Lahore-to-Skardu journey to the martyrs of Pakistan’s Armed Forces and police. Through the challenge, he paid tribute to those who lost their lives while serving the country.
This part of the campaign gave the run another purpose alongside the sports and anti-drug awareness message. The journey was presented as a tribute as well as an effort to encourage young people to focus on fitness and positive activities.
GCU had announced before the start of the run that Faizan was dedicating the challenge to the country’s security forces and martyrs. The university also said the campaign was linked to promoting a drug-free lifestyle among young people.
A GCU Student With Experience in Long-Distance Running
Faizan is a third-semester Psychology student at Government College University Lahore. He is a member of the Falcon Triathlon Club and has already spent years involved in running.
According to reports, Faizan has been running for around eight years. The Lahore-to-Skardu challenge was also not his first major long-distance effort. About three months before this journey, he completed an 800-kilometre run.
His earlier experience helped prepare him for the much longer Lahore-to-Skardu challenge. Covering 1,100 kilometres required him to manage his pace, energy and recovery over many days instead of treating the run like a single race.
When GCU launched the challenge in August, the university said Faizan was aiming to establish a new national record. He began the run from the historic Clock Tower at GCU Lahore, where university officials, students, police and Rescue 1122 personnel gathered to see him off.
The start of the journey reflected the level of support behind the project. His university and family were involved in the effort, while support teams assisted him on the road as he travelled across different regions.
Support During the Difficult Route
A journey of this size cannot normally be completed without planning and support. Reports following Faizan’s arrival in Skardu said he received technical and financial backing from GCU and support from his parents.
His pacer, Abdullah Shahzad, also played a role in helping him stay on schedule. Abdullah, who was a second-year GCU student, reportedly ran about 10 kilometres each day alongside Faizan.
Security officials, district administration teams and Rescue 1122 personnel also provided assistance and medical cover during different parts of the route. Such support was important because the journey passed through remote and difficult areas where weather and road conditions could change quickly.
The support system allowed Faizan to concentrate on the physical demands of the run while others helped manage safety and logistics. Long-distance endurance events often require careful coordination, especially when they pass through several regions and different types of terrain.
A Warm Welcome in Skardu
After spending days on the road, Faizan finally reached Skardu and received a warm welcome from local residents.
According to GCU, large crowds gathered at the finish line and celebrated his arrival. Reports said people lifted the young athlete on their shoulders as they marked the completion of his long journey.
He was also formally received by Skardu Deputy Commissioner Hamza Murad, GCU Vice Chancellor Professor Muhammad Omer Chaudhry and GCU Director of Sports Waseem Akhtar. A reception was later held with local administration and sports officials.
The welcome showed the public interest created by the unusual journey. Completing such a long route on foot had already attracted attention, but the social message connected with the run gave it a wider purpose.
Promoting Sports as a Healthy Choice
Faizan’s campaign also placed attention on the value of sports and physical activity. His message was especially focused on young people, encouraging them to spend more time in healthy and productive activities.
At the beginning of the challenge, Faizan spoke about his wish to motivate people, both young and old, to stay away from drugs and give more importance to physical well-being. He linked a stronger sports culture with healthier communities and more active lives.
His approach used his own experience as an athlete to support that message. Instead of simply speaking about the importance of exercise, he took on a demanding challenge that required daily effort, discipline and preparation.
For students and young athletes, such challenges can also highlight the importance of setting goals and working towards them over time. Faizan’s run showed the level of commitment required to complete a long-distance endurance project across very different parts of Pakistan.
Crossing Three Regions of Pakistan
One of the most striking aspects of the challenge was the variety of areas covered during the journey. Faizan travelled across Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan.
The first part of the route featured the plains of Punjab, while the northern section became increasingly mountainous. The transition from lower and warmer areas to steep and higher terrain created a major physical test.
Naran, Babusar Top, Chilas and Raikot were among the demanding points included in the route. These areas are known for difficult mountain roads and changing weather, adding to the challenge faced by a runner attempting to cover such a long distance.
The journey therefore became a test of endurance across several types of terrain rather than a standard road race.
A Message That Went Beyond the Finish Line
Although the completion of 1,100 kilometres was the main sporting achievement, Faizan’s campaign focused on what he wanted people to remember after the finish.
His anti-drug message was aimed especially at young people, while his tribute to the Armed Forces and police martyrs gave the journey another public purpose. He also promoted fitness and healthier activities as alternatives to drug use.
By meeting people along the route, Faizan was able to take the campaign outside the university environment. His run turned into a moving platform for awareness, with the message travelling from Lahore through Punjab and into the northern areas.
The challenge also highlighted the growing role of endurance sports in Pakistan. Long-distance running requires patience and steady effort, and Faizan’s journey showed how an athlete can use sport to draw attention to a wider social issue.
Completing a Historic Challenge
Faizan’s arrival in Skardu brought an end to a journey that had started in Lahore and covered around 1,100 kilometres.
Several Pakistani media outlets have described the challenge as a 22-day run, which is also the wording used in the article’s headline. GCU’s official September 18 release, however, describes the same achievement as a 21-day run.
Regardless of the difference in the reported number of days, there is broad agreement on the central details: Faizan Ahmed Faiz completed a roughly 1,100-kilometre Lahore-to-Skardu endurance journey, crossed Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan, and used the effort to promote a drug-free lifestyle among young people.
His journey ended in Skardu, but the message behind it was meant to continue. Through endurance running, community interaction and his own example, Faizan sought to encourage young Pakistanis to stay active, focus on their physical well-being and avoid drugs.
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