Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif approved a three-day Basant Festival to be held on February 6, 7 and 8, marking the first government-sponsored and fully organised celebration of the traditional spring festival in the province.
Chairing a high-level meeting on Basant arrangements, the chief minister said she had come to restore joy and cultural celebration to the people of Punjab, adding that the province’s rich traditions had been pushed aside for years. She termed Basant an 800-year-old cultural heritage of Punjab and said the world recognises Punjab’s vibrant culture.
CM Maryam Nawaz said Punjab belongs to everyone and all communities have the right to celebrate their festivals freely, including Eid, Holi, Christmas and Ramadan. She recalled the revival of the Horse and Cattle Show after three decades, saying it would also be held this year.
Announcing strict safety measures, the chief minister said a comprehensive Basant Safety Plan had been finalised to prevent accidents historically associated with kite flying. Lahore has been divided into Red, Yellow and Green zones, and only cotton kite string made of nine threads will be allowed. Nylon and metallic strings are strictly banned, with violators facing up to five years in prison and fines of up to Rs5 million.
She said illegal kite flying outside the notified dates would invite imprisonment and fines, while parents and guardians would be held responsible for underage or illegal kite flying. Kite reels (charkhi) are banned, only hand-held spools (pana) will be allowed, and kite and gudda sizes have been fixed.
To protect motorcyclists, the government will install free safety rods on 10 lakh motorcycles. Entry into Red Zones will only be allowed for bikes fitted with safety rods, while riding without a rod will attract a Rs2,000 fine. Citizens providing information about banned kite flying will be rewarded, she announced.
The chief minister said more than 2,150 manufacturers, traders and vendors had been registered, while over 600 FIRs had already been registered against violators ahead of Basant, with hundreds arrested and tens of thousands of illegal kites seized. More than 10,000 surety bonds have also been obtained to ensure compliance.
A detailed traffic and transport plan has been prepared. Under the Basant Transport Plan, free rides will be provided on Orange Line, Metro Bus, electric buses and feeder buses, along with 500 additional buses. Ride-hailing services will also facilitate tens of thousands of rides to discourage motorcycle use and reduce risk.
For security and emergency response, 4,000 police personnel, besides Suthra Punjab workers, will be deployed. Police, Rescue, Fire Brigade, Ambulance and Health plans have been finalised, while 24/7 control rooms have been set up at Safe City and the Commissioner’s Office. CCTV cameras and drones will monitor the festival throughout the three days.
Appealing to citizens to ignore rumours and misinformation, CM Maryam Nawaz said Basant is being organised for safe enjoyment and public happiness, urging people to celebrate responsibly. She announced that the Basant Festival will be launched on the night of February 6, with formal celebrations beginning on February 7.