LAHORE: Provincial Minister for Information and Culture, Azma Bokhari has said that comprehensive preparations for Basant are underway in Lahore, and Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif personally briefed the public on safety measures and administrative arrangements.
Talking to media, here Tuesday, Azma stated that extensive facilities are being provided for citizens across Lahore during Basant, including special free transport arrangements to facilitate the public. The Chief Minister also gave a detailed briefing on the SOPs finalized for Basant celebrations to ensure that citizens can enjoy the festival in a safe environment, she added.
Azma Bokhari further informed the media that following surveys in the Walled City, dilapidated and dangerous buildings have been sealed, while details of the approved safety mechanism for other buildings will also be shared with the public by the Chief Minister.
Addressing complaints about the high prices of kites and kite strings, she said that permission has been granted to manufacture kite-flying equipment in four additional districts to reduce the gap between supply and demand. Reports had emerged of kites being sold for as high as Rs. 350 in certain areas, prompting the government to take corrective measures to stabilize prices, she said.
She expressed confidence that Basant-related items will soon become affordable, allowing everyone to celebrate the festival with joy. She urged the public to demonstrate a sense of civic responsibility, celebrate Basant as a cultural festival, and avoid endangering their own lives or those of others. She emphasized that if Basant is celebrated successfully under the SOPs, the festival will be extended across the entire Punjab next year.
Azma Bokhari clarified that this is not just Lahore’s Basant, as people from across the country are coming to Lahore to celebrate. She added that Basant has generated employment for eight to ten industries, and in the last two days alone, kites worth Rs. 3.4 billion have been sold, highlighting the festival’s significant economic impact.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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