Kite Flying Ban to Continue After Basant as CM Maryam Praises Safe Celebrations in Lahore
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has announced that the ban on kite flying will remain in force after the conclusion of the three-day Basant Festival, stressing that the relaxation granted for the event was strictly temporary and tied to safety considerations. She made the remarks while chairing a special video-link meeting in Lahore to review arrangements, security measures and overall management of Basant celebrations across the provincial capital.
During the meeting, Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb presented a detailed report on Basant, while Home Secretary Ahmed Javed Qazi, the Lahore commissioner, health department officials, representatives of the Parks and Horticulture Authority, police and security agencies briefed the chief minister on enforcement, medical preparedness and crowd management. Expressing satisfaction over the coordinated efforts of all departments, the chief minister said the final day of Basant marked the end of permitted kite flying, which was stopped after 5:00am on Monday, and confirmed that the complete ban would continue thereafter.
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Maryam Nawaz praised the citizens of Lahore for their cooperation and discipline throughout the festival, saying their adherence to standard operating procedures played a key role in ensuring that Basant remained both festive and secure. She congratulated the public for fully complying with safety rules and thanked law enforcement, rescue services and administrative teams for maintaining order during large-scale celebrations.
The announcement comes after Lahore witnessed record public participation during Basant, with an unprecedented rush of activity across the city. Official figures showed that around 900,000 vehicles entered Lahore over three days, while public transport usage reached historic highs due to free travel facilities. Nearly 1.4 million passengers travelled on the Orange Line Metro Train, Metro Bus, Speedo Feeder Buses, electric buses and Regional Transport Authority services over two days, significantly easing congestion and allowing citizens to move safely between celebration hotspots.
Authorities also ensured extensive medical coverage during the festival, with more than 200 clinics on wheels and 21 field hospitals remaining operational, particularly in busy areas such as Liberty, the Walled City and densely populated residential neighbourhoods. On the final day, 419 buses continued operating to facilitate free and safe travel late into the night as celebrations wound down.
In her concluding remarks, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz emphasised that while cultural traditions like Basant are an important part of Lahore’s identity, public safety remains the government’s top priority. She said the success of Safe Basant demonstrated that large-scale cultural events can be organised responsibly through public cooperation, strict enforcement and effective planning, adding that the same model would be applied to future events while maintaining necessary restrictions to protect lives and property.
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