By Staff Reporter
LAHORE: The Punjab provincial government has imposed a 30-day ban on the manufacture and use of kites bearing images of political party flags, just as the ancient kite-flying festival of Basant prepares for its first revival in nearly two decades — a move many view as politically motivated and aimed at the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party.
The restriction, announced Monday by the Punjab Home Department, invokes Section 144 of the country’s criminal procedure code to prohibit kites depicting any person, holy scripture, religious site, national flag or political emblem. Officials described the measure as necessary to prevent “discrimination or disruption of public order” during the festivities, scheduled for Feb. 6 to 8 in Lahore.
“It has been reported that to disrupt the festival, miscreants may use images of holy scripture, religious places and flags of countries and political parties,” the department said in its notification, adding that the government has permitted kite flying solely for “recreation and festivity.” Under the new rules, only plain, single-colored or multicolored kites — known locally as gudda or patang — will be allowed in Lahore during the three-day event. The ban also covers the manufacturing, trade, transport, storage, sale and purchase of prohibited kites, effective immediately and running through late February.
While the stated rationale emphasizes safety and neutrality, the prohibition on political flags is widely seen as an attempt to suppress displays of support for the opposition PTI, the party of imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan, particularly in Punjab’s urban centers where it maintains strong loyalty. The festival’s peak on Feb. 8 coincides with a nationwide protest called by the PTI, which has often used public events to mobilize its base in Lahore. Allowing party-branded kites to fill the skies could effectively turn Basant into a show of PTI strength.
Khan’s removal from office in 2022 triggered widespread unrest, and his party’s innovative protest strategies — from social media campaigns to symbolic marches — have sustained pressure on the government led by the Sharif family. Permitting kites with party flags or Khan’s likeness could heighten their visibility during the festival, potentially undermining the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s narrative of waning support for Khan. In a province where PTI’s influence persists despite crackdowns, the ban on flagged kites appears as preemptive crowd control, especially given the Feb. 8 overlap.
Basant, a lively spring celebration deeply embedded in Punjab’s cultural heritage, draws thousands to rooftops for kite-flying amid music, feasts and merriment. Once a signature of Lahore’s identity, the festival was banned in 2005 after a series of fatal accidents involving sharp, metal-coated strings that caused throat injuries and electrocutions. This year’s revival represents a tentative return to tradition, governed by the Punjab Regulation of Kite Flying Rules 2025.
Those rules prohibit metallic wire, nylon cord or strings coated with glass or other abrasives, with penalties of three to five years in prison or fines up to Rs2 million for violations. Manufacturers or sellers of banned items face stiffer sentences: five to seven years in prison and fines up to Rs5 million.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, daughter of three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif, finalized the plans last Friday, urging caution. “We’ve got a full safety blueprint to stop the kind of mishaps that plagued kite flying before,” she said. “A comprehensive Basant safety plan has been finalized to prevent accidents associated with kite flying.”
Nawaz outlined a zoning system dividing Lahore into red, yellow and green areas to regulate crowds and activities. “Only cotton kite string made of nine threads will be allowed. Nylon and metallic strings are strictly banned, with violators facing up to five-year jail terms and fines up to Rs5 million,” she said. The chief minister also cautioned that kite flying outside the designated dates would invite legal action, and parents or guardians could be held responsible for minors involved in unsafe or unauthorized activities.
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