Punjab CM Maryam urges public to follow safety measures as Basant returns to Lahore

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has appealed to the public to strictly observe safety measures while celebrating Basant, thanking citizens for what she termed an overwhelming and responsible response to the revival of the festival.

Addressing the media, the chief minister said Basant was allowed only in Lahore on February 6, 7 and 8 as a pilot project, while kite flying remains banned in the rest of Punjab. She said the public response exceeded expectations and added that after reviewing the success of the pilot project, the government would consider extending it to other cities.

Maryam Nawaz said Basant is a centuries-old festival of Punjab, dating back to 1250, symbolising the arrival of spring.

“It should be celebrated with joy, but safety must always come first,” she said, urging people to remain mindful of their own safety as well as that of others.

She said the Punjab government had taken extensive measures to make Basant foolproof. Public transport would remain completely free on all routes during the festival, including 419 buses, Metrobus services, the Orange Line train and 6,000 Yango rickshaws, providing over 60,000 free rides to citizens. She also advised people to use public transport instead of motorcycles.

The chief minister said safety rods had been installed on more than 700,000 motorcycles in Lahore, with camps set up to provide free rods. She noted that around 90 percent of motorcycles now have safety rods installed, dispelling earlier doubts. The ban on riding without safety rods would also apply to motorcycle and loader rickshaws.

Explaining the kite-flying regulations, Maryam Nawaz said only kites of approved sizes would be allowed, using cotton string made of nine threads. The use of metal wire, spinning wheels, tindi, bulletproof or other prohibited materials would be strictly banned, with violators facing severe punishment. She said the Punjab Regulation of Kite Flying Act rules and notifications had been issued, under which violations could result in five to seven years’ imprisonment and fines of up to Rs5 million.

She added that only registered manufacturers, sellers and traders would be allowed to sell kites and strings carrying QR codes for real-time monitoring. Thermal drone surveillance, including night monitoring, was being carried out across the city, while Safe City cameras were monitoring all areas of Lahore. A whistleblower system had also been introduced to report violations.

Lahore has been divided into three zones based on risk, with 48 camps set up in high-risk areas, 32 in yellow zones and 20 in green zones. Over 10,000 police personnel and more than 2,300 traffic police officers have been deployed. Emergency arrangements include 51 ambulances, 30 fire brigades and 300 motorcycle ambulances, while a 15-member quick response team has been formed in every tehsil.

Maryam Nawaz also highlighted measures taken to ensure rooftop safety, saying kite flying should not be allowed on open roofs without boundary walls, and all rooftops should be secured with nylon ropes. She urged parents to closely supervise children flying kites.

The chief minister said special attention was also being paid to public safety issues beyond Basant, including legislation against the theft of gutter covers. She warned that those involved in stealing, selling or buying sewer covers would face up to 10 years in prison and heavy fines, adding that negligence leading to death could result in severe punishment.

She said Basant had boosted economic activity worth billions of rupees, benefiting kite manufacturers, hotels and restaurants, while people from across Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were participating in the festivities. “Basant has now become an international festival, and people from all over the world are coming to celebrate it,” she said.

Maryam Nawaz said her government wanted to promote Punjab’s cultural heritage, language and values, adding that Punjabi signboards had been installed across the province. She said the aim was to present a positive image of Pakistan to the world.

The chief minister also expressed solidarity with the people of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, praying for peace and stability in both provinces.

Maryam Nawaz said laws were being enforced for the welfare and safety of citizens. “I do not want to punish anyone, but the law must be implemented to protect lives,” she said, adding that true happiness lay in celebrating responsibly and ensuring safety for all.