Authorities intensify crackdown on kite flying

Officials directed to submit weekly performance report

LAHORE:  

On the directions of the Punjab government, authorities have intensified the crackdown against kite flyers, said Punjab Police Inspector General Amjad Javed Saleemi on Wednesday.

He expressed these views while reviewing reports received from the districts on the crackdown. Officials have been directed to submit a weekly performance report in this regard so that we are able to take action more efficiently and ensure the safety of citizen’s lives and property.

Briefing the inspector general, Additional IG Operations Inam Ghani said that during the past six weeks, 3,3038 FIRs have been registered against individuals in the province while 3,447 were discovered using metal strings while flying kites.

Further, 3,435 people have been arrested in the province during the crackdown while 1,387 people have been fined. In addition, 182,332 kites and 7,104 kite reels were recovered from the possession of the suspects.

The biggest crackdown was conducted in Faisalabad. During a period of six weeks, officials registered 1,656 FIRs and seized 66,369 kites, 3,356 kite reels, 9,340 kilogrammes of nylon chemical powder and 10 bundles of kite paper.

The inspector general directed all officials to continue the crackdown against those manufacturing, buying and selling kites and related paraphernalia according to standard operating procedures.

He also requested all the stakeholders of society, especially parents, teachers, lawyers, journalists and social leaders to cooperate with the police in order to eliminate this practice and urged them to play their role effectively so that citizen’s lives can be protected.