Punjab govt given deadline to respond on kite flying permission

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has granted the Punjab government time until December 22 to submit its response regarding the reintroduction of kite flying in the province.

LHC Justice Owais heard the application filed by the Judicial Activism Panel (JAP), which challenges the Kite Flying Act 2025. The petition contends that the Punjab government issued the ordinance allowing Basant celebrations without approval from the provincial assembly. The petitioner has raised concerns over public safety, citing multiple fatalities in past years caused by kite flying.

The Punjab government, along with the Inspector General of Punjab and other relevant authorities, have been made respondents in the case. The petition argues that permitting kite flying again could lead to repeated accidents and endanger citizens’ lives.

The case had been filed after Punjab kicked off efforts to revive Basant, the spring festival historically celebrated with kite flying. The festival had been banned since 2007 following a series of deadly incidents, including injuries from metallic or chemically treated kite strings.

In response to safety concerns, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari has assured that Basant will return as a “fully regulated and closely supervised” event. The new ordinance imposes strict penalties for violations, including three to five years’ imprisonment and fines up to Rs 2 million for using or selling hazardous kite strings. All kite string manufacturers and sellers are required to register, and each roll will now carry a QR-coded identifier.

The LHC’s directive gives the government a week to respond before further proceedings, reflecting the court’s caution in balancing cultural revival with public safety.