The Basant holiday began in Lahore just after midnight on Thursday, when Punjab formally overturned a 19-year prohibition, with police enforcing rigorous safety precautions to prevent kite-related mishaps.
The three-day celebration will go till February 8. The restriction, enacted in 2007 due to deaths and injuries caused by jagged kite strings and celebratory gunfire, was removed last week through legislation.
Azma Bokhari, Punjab Information Minister, flew a kite from Delhi Gate in Lahore to kick off the Basant celebration. She announced, “The wait is finally over. “The festival is about to start.
Speaking from the venue, Bokhari stated, “Women, children, the elderly, and men are all enjoying Basant.” Nobody is bothering anyone; everyone is celebrating freely. We hope that these festivities last three days without incident.”
In an earlier statement, she stated that the festival was being closely watched, with law enforcement agencies stationed across the city to guarantee public safety.
She stated that extensive measures had been put in place to prevent any deaths during the celebrations. The Punjab government last week enacted the Punjab Kite Flying Ordinance, 2025, which provides the legal framework for Basant’s resumption.
In her Basant greeting, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz stated that kites had returned to Lahore’s sky after 25 years. She advised people to celebrate the event properly, adhere to all safety protocols, and make Basant safe for all.
She also complimented former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for restoring pleasure and peace to Punjab and Pakistan.
Under the new law, police personnel with the level of sub-inspector or above have the authority to conduct searches and arrests without a warrant in situations supported by convincing evidence.
