Punjab to celebrate Basant festival on Feb 6-8 after ‘25 years’

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has approved the revival of the Basant festival in Lahore after a gap of 25 years, directing authorities to enforce strict safety protocols as the city prepares to host the three-day event from February 6 to 8.

According to Marriyum Aurangzeb, Senior Minister Government of Punjab, the Basant Ordinance 2025 will be fully implemented during the festival. All kite sellers and manufacturers will be registered, while kite strings will be QR-coded and digitally monitored to ensure compliance with safety standards.

Officials said the chief minister has also ordered a citywide campaign starting Wednesday to install safety antennas on all motorcycles in Lahore.

The antennas are designed to prevent injuries from stray kite strings, which have been a major cause of past accidents linked to the festival.

“Basant belongs to the people, and its success is our collective responsibility,” the chief minister said in remarks shared by her office, adding that public safety would remain the government’s top priority during the celebrations.

The administration said the revival of Basant, long regarded as one of Lahore’s most iconic cultural festivals, aims to restore the city’s historic spring traditions while ensuring a secure environment for residents and visitors.

The development comes days after the provincial government promulgated the Punjab Kite Flying Ordinance 2025, formally paving the way for the return of Basant,  the province’s iconic kite festival.

Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N), the ruling party in the province, announced the development in an official post on X.

“Basant is back after 25 years,” the post read.