The Rawalpindi district administration has found out that the supply of lethal kite strings, responsible for numerous fatalities, originates from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), therefore, the administration has decided to take up this issue with the K-P government.
A senior district administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, shared that following the tragic death of a young man in Faisalabad due to a killer string, the Rawalpindi administration launched an inquiry. According to the report compiled by the special branch, 90% of the killer strings and kites circulating in the twin cities are supplied from K-P.
The report stated that traders engaged in the sale of these lethal strings and kites get them in Haripur, Abbottabad, Nowshera, and Peshawar. While Punjab has imposed a comprehensive ban on kite flying and the sale of killer strings, KP harbours factories manufacturing kites and related paraphernalia.
Further investigation found no local manufacturing facilities for strings and kites in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Instead, individuals resort to contacting dealers in K-P to get these items. The report highlighted that K-P-based kite and string dealers even offer home delivery services, utilising various courier companies and road transportation for distribution.
Keeping these facts into account, the district administration has decided to engage with the K-P government and administration to halt the supply of kites and strings to Rawalpindi. Initial steps involve identifying the extent of the problem through formal correspondence. Additionally, law enforcement agencies will collaborate to arrest all dealers involved in this illicit trade, which poses a grave threat to public safety.
Furthermore, the Rawalpindi and Attock Police have been directed to swiftly identify and apprehend people involved in this illicit trade. These proactive measures aim to dismantle the demand and supply network of killer kites and strings, which have claimed so many lives despite the government’s ban on kite flying.
Despite the government’s ban, two separate Basant festivals were celebrated in Rawalpindi this year, leading to fatalities and injuries caused by strings. Law enforcement agencies have arrested so many individuals yet the illegal practice persists.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 26th, 2024.
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