LAHORE:
As the city counts down to Basant, the sky will soon be filled with color, but on the ground, a shortage of kites and strings, delays in vendor permits and conflicting official signs are converging into a controversy that threatens to define the return of the festival more than the celebration itself.
Concerns have been raised about a possible shortage of kite flying supplies, which could put a damper on Basant festivities. Sources said the supply of kites, reels and strings remains limited, while the online permit system for authorized sellers is yet to become operational.
Even though the administration allows the import of kite flying equipment from other cities, license holders are reportedly facing difficulties due to delays in issuing permits online.
Industry representatives have warned that further delays could lead to price increases and reduced holidays. The Kite Flying Association has urged the administration to immediately activate the permit system, warning that Basant celebrations could lose their charm if supplies are not made available in time.
Meanwhile, the Punjab government has refuted claims of banning any Basant song, clarifying that the ban applies only to stage performances, as the event that was supposed to bring good publicity for the government remains mired in controversy.
A day after a notification about banning 132 songs, including a song associated with PTI, went viral, the government clarified that the notification issued on January 23 by the Punjab Art Council had nothing to do with Basant.
Information Minister Azma Bokhari, speaking at a press conference in Lahore, said the ban on songs during stage performances had no connection with Basant and was strictly applied to stage performances involving dance, with an aim to maintain ethics and quality.
He added that Basant’s regulated guidelines focus on public safety, with full registration and tracking of kites, strings and manufacturers, strict size controls and price regulation.
Interestingly, senior city police officials, even after the press conference, claimed when contacted that those playing songs from the banned list would be instantly booked under Section 188.
Later, when these officials were informed of Azma Bokhari’s clarification, they requested anonymity, saying that the minister was the highest authority on the matter and asked that their previous position be ignored.
Information Minister Azma Bokhari was asked to respond to this apparent confusion, but she decided not to respond.
The event that was supposed to give good publicity to the government has so far only deepened the controversy.
From strict security measures and registration obligations that have driven up the prices of multiple kite strings, to a ban on citizens using kite colors to express their political affiliation and exorbitant fines for violations, it has all made the lack of proper planning and a disconnect with ordinary citizens increasingly evident.
The implementation of Basant regulations also remains a pressing issue, with authorities privately admitting that it is almost impossible to determine from which roof a kite is flown.
A government official from one department in question, who requested that even his department remain confidential, said there was no conceivable way to locate the offending roofer.
He added that it is now up to the district government to set rules so that the police do not use them as a license to act according to their own whims.
A sitting PML-N MP also expressed fear of reviving what he called a deadly festival, particularly restricting it only to Lahore. He questioned why other cities and towns were being deprived of the festival and said this would leave a bad taste among people in other major cities in the province.
However, a former federal minister, though also against Basant, said that the event was essentially Lahore-centric and therefore holding it only in Lahore made sense.
He added that the festival would effectively belong to the rich, given the high cost of kites, strings and participation. He said he hoped and prayed that Basant did not take lives and maintained that he should not have been revived.
Former caretaker Prime Minister Hasan Askari Rizvi said holding the event only in Lahore, while it remained banned elsewhere, would have a negative impact on people in other cities, calling its implementation discriminatory and unlikely to benefit the PML-N government in any way.
He said banning party colors was not unconstitutional but an administrative decision given to the government, adding that given the current judicial situation, the option of legal recourse was not even available.
Information Minister Azma Bokhari was contacted again for comment on the growing controversy surrounding Basant but was unavailable.
Meanwhile, the tightly regulated and government-sponsored revival of Basant is fast becoming a test of the Punjab administration’s ability to manage security, politics and public expectations, as the Lahore district administration issued a strict 12-point code of conduct for the three-day kite flying festival.
The development came after Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s directives for the festival scheduled from February 6 to 8.
Emphasizing public safety and zero tolerance, Lahore Deputy Commissioner announced that the code of conduct would be enforced across the city, including all rooftops and premises, to ensure compliance with the Kite Flying Act, 2025 and other safety norms.
The district administration, police and relevant departments have been directed to strictly implement the guidelines, and officials are authorized to inspect rooftops and impose immediate bans on kite flying at unsafe sites.
Under the code, the use, sale or display of metallic, chemical, glass-coated, nylon or other dangerous kite strings has been strictly prohibited, while aerial shooting and the use of loud sound systems that cause public disturbance have also been prohibited.
Authorities have also made it mandatory to install safety bars on all motorcycles in Lahore to protect riders from dangerous kite strings.
Under no circumstances will kite flying be permitted near airports and sensitive facilities. The owners have been ordered to ensure adequate safety measures on the roofs and will be personally responsible for any accidents or losses that occur during the festival.
The purchase and sale of kites and related accessories will be allowed only from February 1 to 8 and exclusively through sellers registered with the Deputy Commissioner. Purchasing supplies from unauthorized sellers will result in strict legal action.
Earlier, CM Maryam Nawaz said that all departments were actively working to make the government-sponsored Basant Festival safe and well-organised.
Chairing a review meeting, he said a comprehensive traffic management plan had been finalized, under which Lahore would be divided into multiple zones and motorcycles would not be allowed to enter the Red Zone without a safety wire.
Free transportation plan
Meanwhile, the Punjab government has also finalized a comprehensive free transport plan for Basant celebrations. The Lahore divisional commissioner approved the plan, according to which citizens will be able to travel free of cost on Metro Bus services and Metro Train Orange Line throughout the festival.
According to officials, free transport will be available on 24 routes in Lahore, with 228 buses operating on feeder routes, 64 Metro Bus vehicles, 54 government college buses and 73 university buses.
The Orange Line Metro Train is expected to carry around 250,000 passengers daily, while Metro Bus and feeder routes will collectively serve more than 340,000 travelers per day. Additionally, 5,000 branded private rickshaws will also provide free transportation services.
