Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz, while announcing a three-day Basant Festival today in a review meeting, has said that the beautiful festival of Basant, which announces the arrival of spring, began 800 years ago. Basant is the culture and heritage of Punjab. The world attaches great importance to Punjab’s culture.
A high-level meeting was held under the chairmanship of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz in which an important decision was taken regarding the Basant Festival.
Addressing the meeting, Maryam Nawaz said that she wanted to give the good news to the people.
CM Maryam added, “For the first time, we are celebrating a government-sponsored and government-organised Basant from February 6 to 8.”
Govt-sponsored Basant
For the first time, a government-sponsored and organised Basant is going to be celebrated on February 6, 7 and 8, she stated.
She expressed that it is unfortunate that a festival like Basant is associated with accidents.
She said that the atmosphere of happiness has been snatched from the people of Punjab and handed over to fights and sedition. Punjab is the province of the heart, but the people have been kept away from entertainment. CM Punjab said that the Basant festival will be launched on the night of February 6 and will officially begin on February 7.
Maryam Nawaz said that 2150 manufacturers, traders, shopkeepers and other related parties have been registered for the Basant festival. More than 600 cases have been registered, and 641people have been arrested for flying kites before Basant.
Everyone has the right to celebrate with freedom in Punjab; this is everyone’s province. Eid, Holi, Christmas and Ramadan, regardless of the religion they belong to, have the full right to celebrate, she said.
Safety measures
Maryam Nawaz highlighted that a comprehensive safety plan has been made for the safety of citizens. Lahore has been divided into red, yellow and green zones. Free safety rods are being installed on 1 million bikes in Lahore.
She said that more than 27,000 kites made and sold illegally have also been recovered, and more than 10,000 surety bonds have been taken to celebrate Basant. She added that during Basant, spinning wheels are prohibited, only a cloth can be used, only cotton strings consisting of 9 threads can be used for kite flying, nylon and metal wire strings will not be allowed to be used.
Maryam Nawaz said that a police, fire brigade, ambulance and health plan have also been formed for Basant.
“I appeal to the public not to listen to disinformation or rumours. Basant is for the entertainment and happiness of the people,” she said.
She said that special control rooms have been set up in Safe City and the Commissioner’s Office, where there will be a 24/7 high alert, and monitoring will be done during the three-day Basant through CCTV cameras and drones.
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