Kite association for lifting ban in Haripur

Ban despite the submission of bonds worth hundreds of thousands of rupees with the administration as security.

HARIPUR:

The office-bearers of the Kite Association in Haripur lamented a ban on kite flying, terming it an axe on the employment of hundreds of locals associated with kite and string manufacturing.

Talking to reporters, Tahir Mehmood said that the local administration had placed a ban on kite flying despite the submission of bonds worth hundreds of thousands of rupees with the administration as security.

He said that the association was also part of the campaign against the glass-quoted string, adding the ban was completely based on a false and concocted conspiracy.

The implementation of section 144 by the administration against the kite sellers and the confiscation of kites and rolls of string by the police was an injustice to the people associated with the kite business.

Other office-bearers Nadeem Ahmad, Chan Zaib, Seth Noman also demanded the lifting of section 144, saying they were doing business within the ambit of the law.

They demanded action against the violators of metal string. “We do business within the legal framework, and pay taxes on time but this ban will render hundreds of workers jobless.”

The office-bearers further said that the police were harassing their workers for no reason, urging the Hazara Commissioner to redress their grievances as otherwise they would be forced to face starvation.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 10^th, 2024.