Basant celebrations restricted to Lahore only, Punjab govt informs LHC

The Punjab Home Department informed the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday that Basant would not be celebrated anywhere in the province except Lahore, and submitted a compliance report detailing safety arrangements for the festival.

LHC Justice Malik Muhammad Owais Khalid heard petitions related to Basant and directed authorities to ensure full implementation of precautionary measures and summoned Lahore Deputy Commissioner Capt (retd) Muhammad Ali Ijaz to appear before the court.

Officials from the Directorate General of Public Relations and the School Education Department were also summoned to brief the court on public awareness campaigns.

During the hearing, Punjab Special Home Secretary Fazalur Rehman submitted a compliance report informing the court that a high-level committee overseeing Basant arrangements would meet on January 27, with progress report to be presented at the next hearing.

The court expressed satisfaction with the report while stressing that no accident should occur during the festival, calling public safety a core responsibility of the government.

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Authorities informed the court that safety planning was based on a decade of data, leading to the creation of red, yellow and green zones across Lahore.

The walled city has been declared a red zone, while areas such as Harbanspura fall into yellow zones. Green zones are areas assessed as having minimal risk. Funds have also been released to install protective rods on motorcycles to reduce injuries caused by kite strings.

Justice Khalid stressed on the need to set up emergency medical camps along roads where accidents may occur, directing that trained doctors be present at the camps.

Officials said emergency response would include Rescue 1122, mobile clinics and 70 clinics on wheels, all of which would be operational during Basant. Hospitals have been placed on alert, and rescue services will remain fully mobilised.

The court also raised concerns over recent fire incidents, directing authorities to adopt special measures to prevent such incidents during the festival.

On enforcement involving minors, officials clarified that children were fined rather than booked in criminal cases to avoid jeopardising their future. The court further instructed authorities to prevent the import of dangerous metallic kite strings from other provinces. The hearing was adjourned until Wednesday..

Read More: Punjab bans 132 ‘suggestive’ songs during Basant celebrations

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the provincial administration also told The Express Tribune that Basant celebrations, scheduled from February 6-8, were restricted exclusively to Lahore, stressing that kite flying and kite manufacturing remained strictly banned in all other districts of Punjab.

The clarification came as district administrations across the province intensify enforcement to prevent illegal kite flying ahead of the festival.

In Nankana Sahib, a meeting chaired by Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Tasleem Akhtar Rao reviewed enforcement measures under the revised kite-flying law. Senior officials from the police, district administration and other agencies attended the session.

Rao reiterated that kite flying and kite manufacturing were prohibited within district limits and warned that violations would result in strict punishments and heavy fines under the new legislation. He said effective enforcement would be ensured to protect lives and property.

Alongside legal and administrative measures, the Punjab government also begun preparations to ensure uninterrupted supply of electricity during Basant.

Provincial Energy Minister Faisal Ayub Khokhar sought detailed recommendations from Lesco and other departments, including the Walled City of Lahore Authority, district administration, Rescue 1122, local government, housing and industry departments.

A steering committee under the energy minister will scrutinise the proposals, with final recommendations to be presented to the chief minister on Wednesday. Four working groups have been formed to oversee various aspects of the arrangements.

Lesco was directed to submit a detailed plan related to securing the power transmission system, which has suffered disruptions during the past festivals due to kite strings. Special teams would remain on standby to respond to emergencies, while efforts were underway to remove hanging and hazardous wires across the city.

On the enforcement front, Lahore police have launched a sweeping crackdown on illegal kite flying. Acting on the directives from Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations) Muhammad Faisal Kamran, police in the Cantonment Division arrested 92 kite flyers during targeted operations, according to Cantt Superintendent of Police (SP) Ikhlaqullah Tarar.

Police said arrests were made across multiple areas, including South Cantt, Factory Area, DHA Phases A and B, Baghbanpura, Manawan, Batapur, Harbanspura, DHA Phase C, Burki, Hudiara, Hair, North Cantt, Ghaziabad and Mustafaabad. Cases were registered against all arrested persons, and investigations are ongoing.

SP Tarar said a zero-tolerance policy was being enforced against kite flyers, sellers and manufacturers, adding that operations would continue to ensure public safety.

With court oversight, administrative coordination and enforcement measures now in place, authorities say the focus remains on ensuring that Basant — limited to Lahore — was celebrated without loss of life or property.