City zoning for Basant security finalised

Authorities have divided Lahore into Red, Yellow and Green zones to manage risks associated with kite flying during Basant celebrations next month.

This was disclosed in a detailed police report submitted to the Lahore High Court (LHC) in compliance with its orders regarding a petition by Advocate Azhar Siddique who had challenged the Punjab Kite Flying Act and a government notification allowing kite flying. Following the LHC's directions, the police stated that the Basant security strategy had been prepared after analysing the data of 10 years to identify potential threats. According to the report, strict enforcement of the act will be ensured.

Only registered kites and cotton string will be permitted, while glass-coated, chemical and metal strings will remain banned. Each kite and string ball will be QR (quick response) code registered to ensure traceability. Authorities will monitor kite flying round the clock through drones, social media surveillance and dedicated control rooms. Strict action will be taken against roof-top illegal activities during Basant like firing g and drinking. The report stated that helmet use and safety wires would be mandatory for motorcyclists, while entry into Red Zones without antennas would be prohibited.