Basant Dates Reportedly Confirmed

The Punjab government has taken a significant step toward reviving Basant, approving celebrations across Lahore on February 6, 7, and 8, subject to stringent regulatory conditions.

The decision was finalised in a high-level meeting chaired by Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb.

According to sources, the meeting unanimously agreed that Basant would return to Lahore, with full enforcement of the existing Basant law.

Under the plan, motorcycles will be equipped with mandatory safety rods, while kite strings will be manufactured only at designated sites under government supervision.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Home Department has begun formal registration of kite and string manufacturers, sellers, buyers, and kite-flying associations, marking the first phase of a comprehensive regulatory framework aimed at ensuring a safe revival of the festival after an 18-year ban.

The process requires the submission of Form A for individual registration, issuance of official certificates under Form B, and the use of Forms C and D for kite-flying associations.

Specifications for kite size, material, and string quality have also been finalised, with authorities warning that substandard, metallic, or chemically coated string will not be allowed.

Officials said violations could lead to cancellation of registration and legal proceedings.

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said Basant would be “completely safe, regulated, and strictly monitored,” stressing that the festival would not be allowed to become dangerous again.

She added that the manufacture or sale of prohibited string could result in three to five years imprisonment and fines of up to Rs2 million.

The Home Department has instructed deputy commissioners to oversee registered associations and ensure that no banned material enters the supply chain.

The revival has also sparked a legal challenge, with a petition filed in the Lahore High Court contesting the ordinance used to lift the ban.

The petitioner argues that the ordinance was issued while the provincial assembly was in session and warns that the activity has historically led to fatal incidents.