The Punjab government is actively preparing to revive the Basant festival in Lahore next year, with a formal announcement expected soon. A recent high-level meeting in Lahore addressed key aspects such as legal frameworks, logistical planning, and safety protocols for the much-anticipated kite-flying event.
Convened under the guidance of PML-N Patron-in-Chief Nawaz Sharif, the meeting brought together notable figures, including Walled City of Lahore Authority DG Kamran Lashari, Lahore CCPO Siddique Kamyana, Commissioner Zaid Bin Maqsood, and representatives from the Kite Flying Association. Tentative plans place the festival in February 2025, pending resolution of all regulatory matters and final stakeholder consultations.
Read more: Kite Association Defies Ban, Announces Basant Celebrations in Rawalpindi
To ensure public safety, kite strings and materials have been submitted to the PCSIR Laboratory for quality testing. Only those materials meeting safety standards will be authorized for sale. A trial event is scheduled for June to evaluate kite materials and test crowd management techniques in a supervised environment.
As part of risk mitigation, the Walled City and selected parks have been suggested as official venues, allowing the festival to retain its cultural appeal while controlling its spread. The proposal emphasizes celebrating within designated safe zones to reduce the chances of accidents.
Strict regulatory measures will accompany the festival. All vendors of kites and strings must register with authorities, and motorcycles lacking safety rods will be prohibited during the event’s two-day duration. Dangerous materials such as metal or glass-coated string (Charkhi) will remain banned, although a limited number of kite spools—up to two-and-a-half tawa gaddas—may be allowed.
Efforts are also underway to promote Basant internationally as a signature cultural celebration, with plans to attract tourists and enhance Lahore’s global image through this vibrant event.
