Punjab lifts Basant ban with strict conditions after 18 years

The Punjab government on Wednesday formally reinstated Basant festivities, once the cultural heartbeat of the province, by issuing an ordinance that permits kite flying under stringent safety and regulatory conditions, effectively ending a ban that had stretched for 18 years.

The decision, signed into law by Punjab Governor Salim Haider, brings a controlled revival of a festival outlawed in 2007 after a string of tragic incidents in which chemical- and metal-coated strings caused deaths across the province. Officials said the new regulatory framework is designed to prevent a repeat of those hazards while allowing the cultural tradition to resume in a safer, monitored environment.

Under the ordinance, kite flying will be legal only if strict conditions are met. Children under the age of 18 are barred from participating, and parents or guardians will be held legally responsible if minors are found violating the restriction. The law also mandates that only cotton-based string may be used, while the manufacture, sale, or use of metal- or chemically-coated string carries harsh punishments.

In Lahore, the penalties are particularly severe. Anyone found using a hazardous string may be jailed for a minimum of three and up to five years, with fines of up to Rs2 million. The ordinance further requires additional safety measures, particularly for motorcyclists, who were frequently the victims of razor-sharp twine in the past.

To enforce compliance among minors, the first offence for anyone under 18 will result in a Rs50,000 fine, rising to Rs100,000 for a second offence. Should the fine remain unpaid, punitive action will be taken against the parent or guardian.