Top government officials privately acknowledge major concerns about potential fallout from festival
A large number of passengers board a train at Rawalpindi railway station bound for Lahore on the eve of Basant festival. PHOTO: ONLINE
LAHORE:
Punjab authorities have finalized extensive security arrangements for the three-day Basant Festival, scheduled for February 6-8, marking the first officially sanctioned celebration of the traditional kite-flying event in Lahore after a more than 20-year ban, imposed amid fears of mishaps and growing security concerns.
More than 10,000 police officers and personnel will be deployed across the provincial capital to ensure public safety, Punjab Inspector General of Police Rao Abdul Kareem said. The event has been categorized as “sensitive” due to the large gatherings planned and recent security threat assessments.
Senior government officials privately acknowledge significant concerns about the potential fallout from the festival. Sources indicate fears that if large numbers of lives are lost (due to violations such as aerial shooting, people falling from rooftops while retrieving kites after “pecha” (cutting kites) or neck injuries caused by dangerous kite strings), the administration could face severe criticism from opposition parties as well as a public backlash.
These concerns reflect the delicate balance authorities must maintain between responding to public demand for the beloved cultural tradition and ensuring safety after nearly two decades of prohibition.
A major challenge facing authorities is the unprecedented rise in demand for approved kite flying materials, particularly standard QR code strings. Officials expressed concern that the resulting supply gap has pushed desperate buyers toward banned chemical cables or metal threads, significantly increasing safety risks.
The severity of the problem led the Home Department to issue an emergency notification two days ago, allowing the import of manufactured materials from four districts outside Lahore.
Provincial Minister Bilal Yaseen chaired a special meeting on Wednesday with senior officials, including the Home Minister, to expedite the supply of standard materials at affordable prices from other provinces.
Challenges of drone monitoring
Lahore has been divided into red, yellow and green zones based on risk assessment, with night vision-equipped drone cameras deployed to monitor crowds, rooftops and traffic intersections.
The live feeds will be conveyed to control rooms set up at Commissioner’s Office, Punjab Safe City Authority and DIG office.
However, sources acknowledged that this presents “the most daunting task” that authorities can face, as the high density of kites during Basant could make it nearly impossible to identify specific rooftops where rope violations occur.
Police also fear possible damage to surveillance drones due to kite strings or deliberate acts such as targeted shooting.
A QR code system has been introduced for all kites and strings, allowing authorities to track compliance and identify illegal materials. Each item must carry a unique code linked to registered sellers.
An official said it remains a quagmire how authorities will trace the origin of a rooftop where a kite or string was used in violation of standard operating procedures.
Multi-level security framework
According to official security instructions issued by the Department of the Interior to all relevant agencies, the festival has been classified as “sensitive” given the expected influx of out-of-town visitors and the public’s strong emotional attachment to the cultural celebration.
Operations DIG Faisal Kamran, who carried out inspections in key areas such as Shadman, Mozang, Mochi Gate and Mall Road on Thursday, hours before the official start of kite flying, emphasized a zero-tolerance policy for violations.
“The safety of citizens will not be compromised,” Kamran said, adding that strict action will be taken against those who make kite flying dangerous.
The security apparatus includes mandatory enforcement of the Punjab Kite Flying Act 2025 Rules, technical sweeping of venues by the Special Branch, strategic police pickets, frequent quick checks, coordinated intelligence sharing between law enforcement and security agencies, and positioning of Rapid Response Forces at strategic locations, as per the security plan shared by Lahore Police.
Law Enforcement and Repression Data
Crackdowns ahead of the festival have yielded significant results, officials said. In the last 34 days, police have registered 1,777 cases of violations of kite flying rules, arrested 1,872 suspects, recovered over 102,907 kites, sealed 32 illegal manufacturing factories and arrested 293 people for illegal sale of kites and strings.
In the last 24 hours alone, 150 cases were recorded across the province, with 157 suspects arrested and 39,667 unauthorized kites confiscated.
On Thursday, Punjab Home Minister Ahmad Javed Qazi reiterated the security instructions issued to concerned departments and media.
As per the notification issued by its department, the necessary safety measures to be ensured under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Punjab Kite Flying Act, 2025 include a complete ban on the use of metallic, chemical or plastic threads (only cotton threads are allowed); kites with religious symbols, flags or portraits of political parties; gun display and aerial shooting; kite flying at government buildings, shopping malls, and designated sensitive structures; and fly kites from parks, roads or public spaces, with kite flying only permitted from rooftops.
Mandatory safety requirements also include that motorcycles be equipped with safety bars or protective antennas; kite dimensions limited to a maximum width of 35 inches and a length of 30 inches; rooftop gatherings requiring formal registration and no-objection certificates; and the provision of free public transport to reduce motorcycle use during peak hours.
Health and emergency preparedness
The Punjab Health Department has put 13 government hospitals on high alert, ensuring full staffing, emergency beds and diagnostic services. Rescue 1122 has been ordered to remain fully prepared for an emergency response.
Bomb disposal squads and Civil Defense personnel will also remain on high alert throughout the festival. In view of the expected large influx of vehicles into Lahore, traffic arrangements have also been planned accordingly.
It is worth noting that Inspector General of Punjab Police Rao Abdul Kareem, who took charge recently, personally visited different areas of Lahore to review security arrangements and issued directions for “zero tolerance towards violations” to the Lahore Police Command.
