Lahore, December 3, 2025: The Punjab government on Wednesday formally lifted a 25-year ban on Basant celebrations, allowing kite flying under strict safety regulations. The move comes following the issuance of a new ordinance signed by Punjab Governor Salim Haider.
The province had outlawed kite flying in 2001 after numerous deaths caused by metal and chemically coated strings, which continued to claim lives despite the ban.
Under the new ordinance, children under 18 years of age will not be allowed to fly kites. Parents or guardians will be held responsible for any violation of this restriction.
Only cotton string will be permitted for kite flying, while the use, sale, or manufacture of metal or chemically coated strings will carry severe penalties. In Lahore, anyone found using hazardous strings may face imprisonment of three to five years and fines of up to Rs2 million.
The ordinance also highlights the need for enhanced safety precautions for motorcyclists, who have been among the most frequent victims of dangerous kite strings.
For minors, the first violation will incur a Rs50,000 fine, increasing to Rs100,000 for the second offence. Failure to pay will result in legal action against the parent or guardian.
To regulate the activity, kite-flying associations will be required to register with the district deputy commissioner. Kites and strings may only be purchased from registered vendors.
A QR-code-based system will be introduced to track sellers and manufacturers. Registered shopkeepers will be assigned QR codes, and kites will also feature QR identifiers to trace the seller. Manufacturers of kite string must also register and will be linked through QR coding for monitoring and enforcement.
The government says the new framework aims to revive the cultural festival while ensuring public safety remains the top priority.
