In response to a sharp rise in demand and prices of kites and strings, the Lahore district administration has announced a major decision regarding Basant preparations.
The ban on ordering kites and strings from other cities has been lifted, allowing registered traders and manufacturers to source these items from outside Lahore.
Lahore Commissioner emphasised that individual citizens will not be permitted to order kites and strings from other cities. Only registered kite makers, traders, and manufacturers are authorised to place such orders. To ensure transparency, any registered shopkeeper ordering kites and strings from outside the city will be required to display a QR code on the products.
Earlier, the Kite Associations have urged the authorities to allow the procurement of kites from other cities in the country to ensure a smooth supply and stable prices.
According to official figures, the registration of 17 Kite-Making Associations comprising 927 kite makers has been completed so far. At the same time, No Objection Certificates (NOCs) have been issued to 1,513 shopkeepers for the sale of kite-flying equipment.
Kite manufacturers have viewed that the revival of Basant after nearly two decades has led to an unprecedented surge in demand, which may be difficult to meet without permission to source kites from outside Lahore.
Meanwhile, the Lahore district administration has stepped up preparations for the festival. Registration is progressing rapidly through the district administration’s e-Biz Basant portal to ensure that kite flying is conducted strictly in accordance with prescribed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Deputy Commissioner Lahore Captain (retd) Ali Ijaz confirmed that, in addition to kite makers, 276 traders have been registered to supply kite-flying materials.
The Tourism Department has also announced a three-day Basant festival under the auspices of the Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP). Preparations for the celebrations are underway at the historic Bhagat Singh Haveli.
Law enforcement agencies have reiterated their zero-tolerance policy on violations of the anti-kite-flying act. Inspector General of Punjab Police Dr Usman Anwar stated that Basant would be allowed in Lahore only on designated days and strictly under government-imposed conditions. He urged parents to discourage children from engaging in unsafe kite flying and advised citizens to report violations to Helpline 15 for immediate action.
SP City Bilal Ahmed warned that strict legal action would be taken against violators of SOPs, adding that rooftop rioting, aerial firing, and any other illegal activities would not be tolerated during the festival.
At the same time, police in Rawalpindi launched a crackdown against illegal kite suppliers, arresting 12 suspects and recovering 2,300 kites and 22 string-spinning wheels from areas including Naseerabad, RA Bazar, Cantt, Wah Cantt, Gujar Khan, and Sadiqabad. In Sahiwal, 14 suspects were arrested and hundreds of kites and string-spinning wheels were seized, while Mandir police arrested an accused identified as Ali Hassan and recovered 850 kites.
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