Basant: sale and purchase of kites, kite strings to begin today

LAHORE: Basant preparations are in full swing, with kite sales starting Monday and prices revealed.

According to rates, sharla sold for Rs50 in Baghbanpura, Pari sold for Rs70, Gudda sold for Rs70, Pona Tawa for Rs100, Tawa for Rs 200, One and a half Tawas being sold for Rs400.

Regarding Basant, Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) of Police Faisal Kamran said that the police crackdown continued against violations of anti-kite flying act.

DIG Faisal Kamran told that police will cordon off Lahore on the eve of the Basant Festival.

The DIG told that all kinds of metal strings are banned, and a complete ban is imposed on nylon, chemical, and mirror-made strings.

The DIG said that anyone found involved in violation of the anti-kite flying act will face three to five years imprisonment and Rs2 million fine.

DIG Faisal Kamran said that from February 2, 2026, kites will be sold at government-registered shops.

Kite-flying will be allowed from February 6, 2026, to February 8, 2026. DIG Faisal Kamran said that the traffic police are installing safety rods on the motorcycles for the safety of bikers.

He advised the citizens to celebrate the Basant Festival according to the law. The DIG further said that people are determined to provide security to people during the Basant Festival.

On the directives of DIG Operation, Lahore police will monitor Basant activities with the help of drone cameras.

Drone cameras are being used to monitor important areas of the inner city, including Shahdara Division, Lorry Adda, Islampura, streets, and highways, in connection with anti-kite flying. Kite flying will be allowed from February 6 to 8 as per government orders and SOPs.

READ MORE: Plans finalised for 3-day Basant festival; Lahore to be divided into 3 zones

Kite flying is not allowed before or after this. Public should purchase kites and strings with barcodes only from approved license holder manufacturers and sellers. Police are patrolling under the supervision of circle officers and SHOs and monitoring with cameras.

Punjab government has formed 10 Quick Response Teams at tehsil level and in this regard a notification has been issued.

According to the notification, a series of important measures are underway for the protection of citizens, effective monitoring, and prevention of unexpected situations during Basant as 10 Quick Response Teams have been formed under the leadership of ACs in 10 tehsils of Lahore.

In this regard Commissioner Lahore Maryam Khan said Assistant Commissioners are appointed as Conveners.

The Commissioner Lahore said 13 departments will be members of each Quick Response Team.

Assistant Commissioners will submit regular certificates about the safety and insecurity of buildings and roofs.

Maryam Khan said Excise, Buildings, LDA and Walled City Authority will submit certificates about the survey and safety of rooftops.

Within two days, teams will identify and inspect dilapidated buildings and roofs and will past notices on the surveyed roofs and buildings and will take an affidavit from the owner/resident, Commissi-oner Lahore said.

Maryam Khan said every Quick Response Team will ensure measures to protect human life on the buildings and roofs of the tehsil.

Commissioner Lahore said Assistant Commissioners and their teams will be responsible for any activity on the buildings and roofs declared prohibited.

Teams will ensure electrical safety, netting of grid stations and uninterrupted power supply, Maryam Khan said.

Maryam Khan said every hotel market of Basant Code of Conduct will ensure awareness in residential areas.

Teams will ensure the repair of manholes, potholes in collaboration with teams at the UC level, the Commissioner said.

Maryam Khan said the teams will ensure that there is no violation of the Basant Act in their tehsil.

The teams will ensure that rescue, civil defence, and ambulances are present at the designated place in case of emergency, she said.

The teams will ensure a special cleaning campaign and a daily meeting and review of each team will be held in each tehsil, the Commissioner said.

TORs of duties and responsibilities for 10 quick response teams have been issued regularly in tehsils.

Each quick response team includes SDO Para Force, Rescue 1122, Sui Gas, LESCO and PTCL.

Each quick response team also includes LDA, WASA, Civil Defence and Special Branch. Each quick response team includes MCLC, C&W, LWMC, CEO Education and Health.

Police preparations underway to ensure security and code of conduct during Basant and in this regard, Lahore Police will deploy more than 9,000 police personnel on duty during Basant days.

According to police, registration of people renting out roofs is underway in police stations.

Action taken against kite flying and kite making in designated areas during Basant days.

Action will also be taken against motorcyclists riding without safety bars during Basant days.

Action will be taken against aerial firing, rioting and drinking during Basant.

Strict action to be taken against display of weapons.

As many as 1391 cases have been registered in Lahore so far on kite flying and kite making.

Not less than 87,373 kites, 1529 spinning wheels were recovered.

Lahore Police is holding meetings with various stakeholders in connection with awareness campaign.

PHA decorating city with Kites

The color of Basant at the intersections, Lahore’s identity returned as PHA brought Basant Festival to the intersections of city.

Liberty Roundabout has been decorated with giant kites.

PHA installed huge kites around the monument of Liberty Chowk for Basant Bahar. Colorful small kites were hung on the green areas and trees of Liberty Roundabout.

Citizens are busy taking pictures with giant kites and Basant Festival turned Liberty Chowk into a photo point. Citizens highly appreciated the Basant Bahar decoration.

Preparations are also being made to install kites 60 feet long and 60 feet wide.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026