The Punjab Government has unveiled a comprehensive safety and transport plan for the three-day Basant festival in Lahore. The initiatives are designed to ensure citizen safety while permitting limited celebrations from February 6 to 8.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations Faisal Kamran said authorities have issued strict instructions to police units. Law enforcement teams will remain deployed across the city throughout the festival period.
To reduce the risk of injuries from stray kite strings, officials have distributed one million safety wires to motorcyclists. Riders will install the wires on the front of motorcycles to protect against sharp strings.
جشنِ بسنت ۔۔۔ ہم سب کی ذمہ داریاں؟
پتنگ اور ڈور کی تیاری و فروخت کے لیے لائسنس لازمی
مکمل تفصیلات کے لیے گورنمنٹ آف پنجاب کا آفیشل یوٹیوب چینل وزٹ کریں 👇🏻https://t.co/I32aAD71dI pic.twitter.com/Bs1vLsgqLF
— Government of Punjab (@GovtofPunjabPK) January 25, 2026The Punjab government has also announced free public transport during the festival. The facility covers government-run buses, app-based taxi services, and other public transport options.
In addition, police have arranged:
- 6,000 safety-equipped rickshaws
- 500 buses
- 60,000 car rides
These services will operate across Lahore during the three days. The Punjab Home Department confirmed that the kite-flying ban remains in force under the Punjab Regulation of Kite Flying Bill 2025.
Read: Punjab Allows Limited Basant Festival in Lahore, Enforces Province-Wide Ban
However, authorities have granted limited permission to celebrate Basant in Lahore from February 6 to 8. Officials clarified that kite flying will remain illegal outside the approved days and timings.
As part of the 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 from 6th to 8th February, 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 in Lahore in accordance with the directions of CM Punjab @MaryamNSharif.
This initiative aims to… pic.twitter.com/8TIWzUHHg5
— Transport & Masstransit Deptt (Punjab), Pakistan (@TransportDeptt) January 26, 2026The Punjab Assembly passed the new law on December 24, replacing the Punjab Prohibition of Kite Flying Ordinance 2001. Under the updated legislation:
- Violations can lead to up to five years in prison
- Fines can reach Rs 2 million, or both
- Manufacturing, selling, or storing kites and strings can result in up to seven years in jail and fines up to Rs 5 million
Officials have urged citizens to follow safety rules and legal limits during Basant. They stressed that the temporary permission aims to preserve tradition while protecting lives and property.
