Punjab gears up for four-day holiday from Feb 5-8

Punjab is set for a four-day break from February 5 to 8 after the provincial government declared Friday and Saturday as public holidays across Punjab, according to an official notification issued on Tuesday.

A notification by the Services and General Administration Department said “February 6 and 7, 2026 (Friday and Saturday) shall be observed as Public Holidays in the Province of Punjab.”

A day earlier, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz urged residents to make the most of the upcoming long weekend, describing it as an opportunity to rest and rejuvenate.

In a statement on X, she highlighted the sequence of holidays in Punjab. She said February 5 will be observed as Kashmir Day, followed by a provincial holiday for Basant on February 6, and the usual weekend holidays on Saturday and Sunday.

The CM  encouraged the public to use the extended break positively, expressing hope that residents across the province would spend the time relaxing and refreshing themselves.

After years of silence in Lahore's winter skies, Basant is set to return, cautiously and tightly regulated, as the Punjab government prepares to revive a festival once synonymous with colour, rooftops and springtime renewal, yet long shadowed by tragedy and controversy.

Basant, traditionally observed on the fifth day of the month of Magh in late January or early February, marks the arrival of spring and has historically been celebrated across Punjab, including in India and among Punjabi diaspora communities, with kite flying at the heart of the festivities.

Also Read: Maryam Nawaz urges public to celebrate Basant safely

In Pakistan's Punjab, however, the festival acquired a darker reputation during the early 2000s, as celebratory gunfire, glass-coated strings, metallic wires and rooftop accidents resulted in numerous deaths, prompting authorities to impose a blanket ban in 2007.

This year's revival follows the promulgation of the Punjab Kite Flying Ordinance 2025, which formally reopened the door for Basant while placing unprecedented restrictions on every aspect of the festival, from kite dimensions and string material to sound systems and rooftop access.

Under official notifications issued by the Lahore district administration on the instructions of CM Maryam, kite flying will be permitted only within Lahore's district limits and only during the three designated days, with enforcement elsewhere in Punjab remaining absolute.

The rules impose a complete ban on nylon, plastic, chemical-coated and glass-coated strings, metallic wire and spools, permitting only cotton string wound into round 'pinna' forms, each carrying a QR code to ensure traceability and regulatory oversight.