LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has approved a 10-day Basant festival in Lahore, describing the extended celebrations as a major festive gift for the city’s residents.
According to the announcement, Basant celebrations will be held from January 29 to February 7, 2027, with a one-day break on February 5 to observe Kashmir Day.
The decision extends the duration of the festival compared with the celebrations held earlier this year, when Basant was revived in Lahore after a gap of 25 years. The festival was held from February 6 to 8.
Maryam Nawaz said the 10-day celebrations would provide Lahorites with a longer opportunity to enjoy the traditional festival and showcase the cultural colours of Punjab and Lahore’s centuries-old heritage.
She said the festival would help present Lahore’s cultural traditions and festivities to an international audience and promote the city’s historical and cultural identity around the world.
Safety measures
The chief minister directed authorities to introduce more comprehensive safety and facilitation measures than those implemented during the previous Basant celebrations.
Maryam Nawaz stressed that protection of human life must remain the top priority during the festivities and called on officials to perform their responsibilities with a strong sense of commitment.
She also appealed to citizens to demonstrate the same sense of responsibility and cooperate with authorities to ensure that the celebrations remain safe.
The chief minister urged citizens and authorities to set a new example during the extended festival by making public safety, responsibility and civic discipline central to the celebrations.
