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LAHORE, Feb 03 (APP): Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday appealed to citizens to strictly follow safety measures during Basant celebrations, thanking them for their enthusiastic response to the festival.
While reviewing Basant preparations during her visit to the Basant Control Room at the Punjab Safe City Authority (PSCA), here on Tuesday, she said that permission for Basant had been granted only in Lahore on February 6, 7, and 8, while kite-flying remained prohibited in the rest of Punjab.
The chief minister added that the response to the Basant pilot project had exceeded expectations and that other cities would be considered after assessing its success.
Calling Basant a traditional festival of Punjab, she urged citizens to celebrate with joy while ensuring their own safety and that of others. She said all departments had taken concerted measures to make the festival foolproof in the provincial capital. Free travel would be provided on 419 buses, metro bus services, the Orange Line train, and 6,000 Yango rickshaws during the event. She added that more than 700,000 motorcycles in Lahore had been fitted with safety rods through free installation camps.
The chief minister outlined kite specifications, saying that kite size would be 35×30 inches, spool size 40×34 inches, and only nine-thread cotton string would be allowed. She warned that metallic wire, chemical string, and other prohibited materials would invite strict legal action. Kites and strings could also be sourced from outside Lahore if required. She said kite flying would be banned in civil aviation areas, and only registered manufacturers, sellers, traders, and associations would supply QR code–embedded kites and strings. Thermal drone surveillance would monitor all areas, including at night, with real-time tracking.
She said the government did not intend to punish citizens, but enforcement of the law was necessary to ensure public safety. Emergency arrangements had been finalized, including ambulances, fire brigade vehicles, and motorcycle rescue units, while assistant commissioners would lead quick response teams in every tehsil. Dangerous buildings had been surveyed, and fitness certificates obtained.
Violations of the Punjab Regulation of Kite Flying Act could result in imprisonment of five to seven years and fines of up to Rs5 million. Lahore had been divided into high-risk, yellow, and green zones, with dedicated safety camps in each zone.
The chief minister said Basant had boosted economic activity worth billions of rupees, benefiting kite manufacturers, hotels, and restaurants. She added that the festival was gaining international recognition and the government aimed to promote Punjab’s culture globally while ensuring a safe environment for citizens.