KARACHI: The Commissioner of Karachi has issued a ban on the purchase, sale, and flying of kites within the city limits due to the perilous nature of the string used in the activity.
According to the notification released on Saturday, a comprehensive ban has been enforced on “manufacturing/selling of kites, sharp Maanjha, metallic wire, and nylon cord as well as flying of kites within the territorial limits of Karachi Division for a period of two months from March 30, 2024, to May 29, 2024.”
This decision follows numerous incidents of citizens sustaining injuries from kite strings. Just this week, a man was injured after becoming entangled in a loose kite string in the Azizabad area while riding a motorbike in Mohammadi Colony.
Tragically, in Punjab, two fatalities were reported due to stray kite strings, prompting the government to initiate a crackdown on the production, sale, and purchase of chemical strings used in kites.
The notification clarifies that the ban is imposed under Section 144 of the CrPC, granting authority to the district administration to issue orders in the public interest, including bans on specific activities for designated periods.
In response to the directive from the Chief Minister, Maryam Nawaz, to control kite flying and manufacturing, over 1,200 cases have been registered in Punjab. In Lahore, law enforcement has recorded 1,285 cases, leading to the arrest of 1,330 individuals during extensive search operations.
Among the detained were 1,223 kite flyers, 95 sellers, and 12 manufacturers, with authorities seizing over 19,700 kites and 1,116 string reels.
Similar crackdowns occurred in Hafizabad and Pattoki, resulting in multiple arrests and the confiscation of kites and string reels. Unfortunately, in Faisalabad, a 22-year-old lost his life after a kite string slit his throat while riding a motorcycle on March 22.
Despite stringent regulations, kite flying persists, prompting intensified law enforcement efforts. Several police divisions made arrests and seized kites and strings from various locations.
During a raid on a suspected kite-selling operation, officers faced assault allegations, resulting in the tearing of two officers’ uniforms. Three suspects were apprehended, and a case was registered against them for obstructing official duties. The raid also led to the seizure of raw materials, kites, and spinning wheels from an illegal manufacturing facility.
