LAHORE: The Punjab government has provided one million safety wires to motorcyclists ahead of the mega Basant Festival in the province. Motorcyclists will install these safety wires on the front of their bikes during the Basant festival.
Furthermore, the Punjab government has announced a comprehensive safety strategy to ensure maximum protection for citizens during the three-day Basant festival scheduled for February 6, 7, and 8.
Deputy Inspector General Operations Faisal Kamran said authorities issued strict directives to police to maintain law and order and safeguard the public throughout the celebrations.
In line with these instructions, officials distributed one million safety wires among motorcyclists across the province. Riders will install these wires on the front of motorcycles to reduce the risk of injuries from stray kite strings. Moreover, police and district administrations have been instructed to remain on high alert to respond swiftly to emergencies.
To further ease movement during the festival, the Punjab police have arranged 6,000 specially equipped rickshaws, 500 buses, and 60,000 car rides for public use.
Additionally, the provincial government announced that all public transport, including app-based taxi services and government-run vehicles, will remain free of charge during the three-day event.
Legal framework and restrictions
Meanwhile, the Punjab Home Department clarified that the ban on kite flying continues under the Punjab Regulation of Kite Flying Bill 2025. However, authorities granted a temporary relaxation from February 6 to 8 to allow citizens to celebrate the traditional Basant festival in Lahore. Officials emphasized that kite flying outside the specified days and times will remain illegal.
The Punjab Assembly passed the new law on December 24 with a majority vote, repealing the Punjab Prohibition of Kite Flying Ordinance 2001 and introducing stricter penalties to protect life and property.
Under the legislation, violations can lead to prison terms of up to five years and fines reaching Rs2 million, or both. Furthermore, the manufacture, storage, sale, or use of kites and strings can result in up to seven years in prison and fines of up to Rs5 million.
