Five-month Basant preparations reach climax

Punjab senior minister credits Nawaz Sharif's vision for festival revival

LAHORE:

Punjab's Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb has said that Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz has spear- headed the revival of the Basant festival in Lahore, fulfilling the long standing vision of former prime min- ister Mohammad Nawaz Sharif to restore this vibrant cultural tradition.

According to a statement, the Punjab government has undertaken nearly five months of intensive preparation to ensure that the Basant is celebrated safely and within a strong regulatory framework. This preparation includes the Basant Act 2025 legislation, detailed transport and operational planning, and extensive arrangements covering pre, during and post-festival activities.

Surveillance is being carried out through Safe City cameras, thermal drones, and district administration monitoring systems. LESCO has installed protective wire netting in sensitive areas, while Special Branch and Intelligence Bureau monitor compliance. A GIS-based QR registration system has been introduced for manufacturers, sellers, traders, transporters, and kite-flying associations. Traffic police have installed over 1.4 million safety rods on motorcycles to reduce risks.

Lahore city has been divided into Red, Yellow, and Green zones for safety arrangements.

To facilitate festival goers, CM Maryam Nawaz has launched the Free Basant Ride initiative, providing 512 buses covering all types of public transport, along with 6,000 three-wheeler rickshaws, collectively facilitating around 600,000 trips per day across Lahore from Friday to Sunday.

The senior minister said markets are buzzing, historical kite-flying zones are alive with excitement, and citizens are following safety SOPs responsibly.

Any decision regarding expansion to other cities or future kite-flying permissions will be evidence-based and safety-driven.

Early indicators also show strong economic activity, benefiting tourism, local businesses, transport, and kite manufacturing, proving that a safe, regulated Basant can revive culture while supporting livelihoods.

The health departments, Rescue 1122, emergency services, civil defence hospitals, and law enforcement agencies are operating on high alert with additional staffing and rapid response protocols.