The Punjab government announced that the Basant festival will return in early 2026, ending a 25-year prohibition on kite flying as the province moves to revive the cultural event under stringent regulatory controls. The three-day celebration will take place from February 6 to 8, with authorities stressing that kite flying will only be permitted under tightly enforced safety measures.
The decision follows a recently issued provincial ordinance that lifted the long-standing ban. Officials said that kites, strings, and sellers will be regulated through QR codes, while any form of aerial firing or disruptive behaviour will result in immediate action. The Lahore High Court, which earlier declined to suspend the ordinance, has directed the government to submit a progress report on festival preparations on December 22.
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Punjab initially imposed the ban in 2001 after a series of fatal incidents caused by chemical- and metal-coated strings. Under the new rules, only cotton-based string will be allowed, and violators found using hazardous material in Lahore could face prison terms ranging from three to five years, along with fines of up to Rs2 million. The ordinance includes additional safeguards for motorcyclists, who were frequently injured during past Basant seasons.
Children under 18 will not be allowed to fly kites, and parents will be held accountable for violations. Fines will start at Rs50,000 for a first offence and rise to Rs100,000 for repeat violations, with further action for non-payment. The government will also require kite-flying associations, sellers, and manufacturers of kite strings to register with district authorities, with QR codes used to trace all products and vendors involved in the festival.
