Govt continues Basant revival, imposes strict kite-flying laws

The Punjab government has moved forward with preparations to restart the Basant festival in Lahore in February, finalizing a detailed regulatory framework that includes registration fees for kite-related businesses, strict material standards, strengthened enforcement measures and new safety requirements for motorcyclists.

The Lahore district administration has announced registration fees for kite and string manufacturers as part of the first phase of official preparations. Under the new rules, kite and string manufacturers will have to pay a registration fee of Rs 1,000, while kite associations will be registered for Rs 5,000.

Officials said manufacturers and sellers must submit Form A to apply for registration, while kite associations will have to fill Form C.

Read: Basant returns to Pindi under strict rules

Upon approval, government certificates will be provided in Form B, with additional documents in Form D for associations.

Authorities said the registration process is mandatory and aims to bring the entire supply chain – from manufacturing and sales to organized flying of kites – under state supervision. The Punjab Home Department said it has also finalized technical specifications regarding the size, materials and quality of kite strings, warning that any use of metallic or chemically treated strings will remain strictly prohibited. Violations could result in cancellation of registration, criminal charges and legal action.

The provincial government has granted conditional permission for Basant to be celebrated in Lahore from February 6 to 8, marking the return of the spring festival after a ban that remained in force for around two decades. The festival was banned in the early 2000s following a series of fatal incidents linked to chemical-coated kite strings.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has ordered authorities to implement the Basant order without exception. Speaking at a meeting to review the arrangements, she confirmed that Basant would be celebrated on February 6, 7 and 8 and announced a city-wide safety campaign demanding that all motorcycles in Lahore be equipped with safety antennas.

The campaign, she said, would begin immediately. “Every motorcycle in Lahore must have a safety antenna,” the chief minister said, stressing that the measure was necessary to reduce the risk of injuries caused by kite strings during the festival.

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She described the revival of Basant as a cultural milestone, saying the return of the festival would restore Lahore’s identity as the center of spring celebrations and attract visitors from across Pakistan and abroad.

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said the government was committed to ensuring that Basant was detained in a controlled and safe manner. She warned that manufacturing, selling or using metal or chemically treated ropes would attract heavy penalties, including prison terms of three to five years and fines of up to Rs 2 million.

Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, who chaired the meeting that approved the revival of the festival, said the deputy commissioners had been tasked with personally supervising the registered kite associations and monitoring enforcement, adding that no banned materials would be allowed to enter the supply chain under any circumstances.

Officials argue that improved enforcement mechanisms, defined safety standards and strict accountability will prevent a repeat of past tragedies.

Basant’s revival has drawn mixed reactions, with its supporters welcoming the return of a cultural tradition and its critics urging caution. Authorities say the continuation of the festival will depend on strict compliance, public cooperation and effective enforcement of security laws during the three-day event.