LAHORE (MNN); Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Friday issued a stern warning against violations of rules for Basant celebrations, scheduled to be held in Lahore from February 6 to 8, saying strict action would be taken to protect lives.
The festival is set to return to Lahore after an 18-year hiatus. The Punjab government has clarified that Basant will not be celebrated across the province and will be limited to Lahore under a strict regulatory framework.
Addressing a meeting on Basant preparations, broadcast live on television, the chief minister described Basant as an 800-year-old cultural tradition and a symbol of renewal. She said the festival was part of Pakistan’s heritage and celebrated internationally.
Maryam Nawaz announced that Basant would be held for the first time as a fully government-sponsored and government-organised event. She expressed regret that negligence in the past had linked the festival to fatal accidents and said a comprehensive safety plan had now been devised.
She said Lahore had been divided into high-risk, medium-risk and low-risk zones, with stringent rules enforced across the city. More than one million safety rods will be distributed free of cost to motorcyclists by the traffic police.
The chief minister said the entire kite-flying supply chain, from manufacturers to traders, was being registered and monitored. Over 2,000 registrations have been completed so far, all of which have been geo-tagged.
She disclosed that authorities had already registered 621 cases for kite flying ahead of Basant and confiscated more than 27,000 kites, while over 10,000 surety bonds had been obtained.
Maryam Nawaz warned that violations of approved kite-flying materials could lead to imprisonment ranging from one to five years. Only pinna would be allowed, while charkhi would be banned. Cotton strings with no more than nine threads would be permitted, while nylon or metal-infused strings would be strictly prohibited.
She said flying kites before the official start of Basant could result in imprisonment and fines of up to Rs2 million. Guardians would be held responsible if underage children were found violating the rules.
Motorcyclists were termed the most vulnerable, and entry into red zones without safety rods would be prohibited, carrying a Rs2,000 fine.
She announced that more than 4,000 police personnel, along with Suthra Punjab teams, would be deployed during the festival. Two control rooms will operate at the Safe City headquarters and the commissioner’s office for round-the-clock monitoring.
The chief minister also announced free public transport for Lahore residents during the three-day festival, including 500 buses, 6,000 Yango rickshaws, 60,000 Yango rides, and free travel on Orange Line, Green Line, metro and electric buses.
She said clinics on wheels, field hospitals and local hospitals would remain on high alert. Urging citizens and the media to avoid misinformation, she stressed that compliance with rules was essential to ensure public safety.
