The Punjab government is considering partially restoring the Basant festival after 28 years, allowing the event to be celebrated under strict conditions at select locations such as open grounds and hotel rooftops. According to the draft proposal, kite flying will remain banned in all residential areas, while limited festivities may be permitted in February 2026 — with Basant Night on February 12 and Basant Day on February 13. The draft outlines that kite manufacturers must obtain registration, with a fee of Rs25,000 and renewal charges of Rs2,500 per annum. For kite sellers, registration will cost Rs15,000 with an annual renewal fee of Rs1,500. Kite-flying associations will pay Rs50,000 for registration and Rs5,000 for renewal. All participants must strictly follow safety regulations. The use of large kites, metallic, or glass-coated strings will remain strictly prohibited. Violators will face fines ranging from Rs200,000 to Rs1 million and imprisonment of up to six months. Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi clarified that the decision is still under review and will be presented to the Punjab Cabinet for debate. “Consultations will be held with political leaders, law enforcement agencies, and administration before final approval,” he said. Deputy Commissioner Hassan Waqar Cheema confirmed that the ban on kite flying in Rawalpindi remains in effect and that police continue crackdowns against violators. However, Muhammad Iqbal and Faisal Mukhtar, representatives of the Kite Association Rawalpindi-Islamabad, welcomed the idea of conditional permission. “This will boost business activity and generate millions of rupees in revenue. We strongly oppose metallic strings and support strict enforcement,” they said. A citizen, Syed Kameel Shah, said Basant can be a healthy cultural and business activity if dangerous strings are banned, while another resident, Haji Abubakar Abbasi, warned that “partial permission will only encourage widespread violations.”
from Punjab News Updates and Insights - The Express Tribune https://ift.tt/ylh0Rgq
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