The Punjab government has begun serious preparations to celebrate a safe and regulated Basant festival in Lahore next year, with a final announcement expected soon.
According to sources, an important review meeting was recently held in Lahore to discuss logistics, legalities, and safety measures surrounding the long-awaited kite-flying festival.
The meeting -- held on the instructions of PML-N Patron-in-Chief Nawaz Sharif -- was attended by key officials including Walled City Lahore Authority DG Kamran Lashari, Lahore CCPO Siddique Kamyana, Lahore Commissioner Zaid Bin Maqsood, and members of the Kite Flying Association.
Sources confirmed that Basant is tentatively scheduled for February next year, and all preparations are being aligned to ensure it can be held in a safe, legal, and culturally vibrant manner. The Punjab government is expected to issue a final decision after resolving all legal hurdles and consulting with stakeholders.
In a move to prioritise public safety, string and kite samples were sent to the PCSIR Laboratory for testing. Only those strings that pass the lab’s safety standards will be approved for production and sale. A rehearsal event is scheduled for June to test the twines, kites, and crowd control strategies in a controlled environment.
Walled city & gardens proposed as safe zones
To preserve the cultural flavour of the festival and minimize risks, it has been proposed that inner-city areas and designated gardens serve as official venues for Basant celebrations. The plan aims to contain kite flying within safe zones and avoid hazardous urban settings.
Strict rules, registrations
To ensure full compliance, kite and string sellers will be required to register with the authorities. Additionally, motorcycles without safety rods will be banned for two days around the festival. The use of metal or glass-coated string (Charkhi) will remain strictly prohibited, though up to two-and-a-half "tawa gaddas" (kite-flying spools) may be permitted.
In a bid to promote the event internationally, a strategy is being developed to attract foreign tourists, positioning Basant as a vibrant cultural festival on the global stage.
