Members of the United States and United Kingdom diplomatic missions in Pakistan joined the Basant celebration in Lahore. They took part in kite flying and showed happiness at the revival of Basant after 25 years.
Lahoris celebrated Basant 2026 after almost two decades with strict guidelines issued by the Punjab government. Despite strict security and limited arrangements, Basant 2026 attracted several local and international residents in Lahore.
A US delegation led by Natalie Baker, Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Islamabad, arrived in Lahore to take part in the Basant 2026 festival. US Consul General in Lahore Stetson Sanders and Deputy Assistant Secretary John Mark Pommersheim also celebrated the festival.
UK Ambassador to Pakistan Jane Marriott also attended the Basant 2026 festivities in Lahore. The participation of US and UK envoys in the Basant 2026 celebrations highlights the international interest in local cultural events.
Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Zahid Bokhari, and Provincial Minister for Communications Malik Sohaib Ahmed Bharath also attended the Basant celebration with the United States and the United Kingdom diplomatic missions.
The international envoys also praised the Punjab government and Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz for reviving Basant 2026 after almost 25 years.
On the other hand, Pakistanis rejected the shutter-down strike call from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in solidarity with PTI founder Imran Khan. In Lahore, people were busy celebrating Basant 2026 and almost all the markets and businesses were open in the city.
The same happened in the different cities of the country, including Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Peshawar.
PTI is in government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), but the well-known Kissa Khani bazar was open the entire day today.
Also Read, No hartal on PTi’s call as Lahoris stay busy celebrating Basant
