The government has allowed the manufacture of kites and string in Lahore from December 30, while sales will be permitted only between February 1 and February 8, as part of conditional approval for celebrating Basant in 2026.Deputy Commissioner Lahore Syed Musa Raza has issued an official notification allowing the cultural festival to be observed on February 6, 7 and 8, 2026, under strict terms and safety measures aimed at preventing accidents and loss of life.

SOPs have been issued for the district administration, police, kite flying associations and citizens, making it clear that Basant will be celebrated only within Lahore’s district limits and that kite flying will be allowed on the specified days under regulated conditions.The sale of kite-flying material has been fixed from February 1 to February 8, while business owners have been allowed to legally start preparations and related work from December 30.

However, the making and sale of spools, commonly known as charkhis, has been completely banned, and only string in the form of a “pana”, wound around a large paper ball, will be permitted. The use of nylon, plastic and metallic wire has been strictly prohibited, and the district administration has been directed to adopt a zero-tolerance policy against such hazardous materials. For effective regulation, the e-Biz app and an online portal have been activated for the digital registration of kite and string manufacturers and sellers.  

Authorities have also made it mandatory for motorcyclists to install safety wires on their bikes to prevent throat injuries caused by stray strings. The notification further states that the size of kites must not exceed the prescribed limits, warning that violations will invite legal action. Police and district officers have been instructed to launch a strict crackdown against those selling banned kite sizes and lethal string. 

Deputy Commissioner Syed Musa Raza said Basant is a cultural festival of Lahore and ensuring its safety is the administration’s responsibility. He made it clear that bloody string and chemical coatings would not be tolerated under any circumstances. He added that while business owners could start work legally from December 30, the protection of human lives remained the top priority, and no negligence would be allowed.

Urging parents to play their role, he appealed to them to prevent children from using prohibited string and assured that law-abiding citizens would be provided full protection during the festival. The kites come in a variety of names and shapes, and each has its own characteristics and appellation in Lahore. The primary shapes are generally variations of the rhombus or curvilinear designs.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)