Basant | Pakistan

The Punjab home department submitted a report to the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday stating that 17 people died during the recent Basant festival in Lahore. The three-day Basant festival was held in Lahore from February 6-8, following the Punjab government’s decision to lift a ban on the historic event after 18 years, with strict regulations. However, despite the government’s emphasis on safety measures, over 100 accidents were reported in connection with the festival. The petition, heard by Justice Owais Khalid, sought the details of deaths and injuries during Basant. According to the report, three people died of electrocution during the festival, and two died after falling from trees. In addition, 12 people lost their lives falling from roofs, the report added. The LHC also sought details of people injured by kite strings during Basant. According to the petitioner’s lawyer, Advocate Azhar Siddique, the data was not provided. Earlier this month, the court summoned a police report on the deaths and inju...

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari on Wednesday said that the Basant festival, which was revived by the provincial government earlier this month in Lahore after an 18-year hiatus, would now be celebrated in February 2027. “I want to state categorically … that Basant will be celebrated in February 2027. No suggestion for celebrating it before that is under consideration,” she said in a video message posted by the Punjab government’s official account on X. She also noted that people in a couple of cities had celebrated the festival over the last few days. “We did not give a harsh reaction at that as there were no losses reported,” Bokhari added. The Punjab minister highlighted people’s “excitement” for the festival and said she shared the same sentiment. Bokhari reiterated that the Basant would be celebrated in February 2027 and would be “bigger and better than the one held this year”. The three-day Basant festival was celebrated in Lahore from February 6-8, following the Punjab government’s decision to l...

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Monday said the return of Basant festivities in Lahore has revitalized the province’s cultural identity and brought renewed public enthusiasm.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Monday praised authorities for organising a “safe Basant” festival over the weekend in Lahore. In televised remarks, she expressed gratitude to various authorities for their arrangements and work during the three-day festival to make sure it was a success. “I wish to praise all 15 departments of the Punjab government for arranging a safe Basant with a whole-of-government approach,” she said. She made special mention of Punjab Inspector General Rao Abdul Kareem, Lahore Capital City Police Officer Bilal Kamyana, Lahore Deputy Inspector General Operations Faisal Kamran and their teams. CM Maryam also expressed happiness that citizens followed standard operating procedures and installed “safety rods” on their bikes, aimed at preventing motorcyclists from suffering injuries caused by kite strings. “It was a positive change for lots of people, where people saw that citizens in Lahore were abiding by the law and following safety protocols,” she added. “It gave me hope tha...

Amid incredible energy, festivity, unity and joy across Lahore, CM Maryam extends Basant celebrations for 5 more hours Record 900,000 vehicles enter Lahore in 3 days 600,000 passengers travelled free of cost on Orange Train over two days Foreign diplomats, showbiz celebrities grace festivities at Delhi Gate.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Sunday lauded the people of Lahore for abiding by the standard operating procedures (SOPs) set by the provincial government, as the three-day Basant festival approached its culmination. “Lahore is happy today, I am happy, too. The residents of Lahore played a vital role in making this Basant successful by following all the rules and regulations,” she said in a statement, posted on PML-N’s official X account. Maryam continued: “The idea of safe Basant will also be adopted in other cities.” Brightly coloured kites soared through the skies over Lahore this weekend, marking the return of a festival after a 19-year ban that had been imposed over safety concerns. Families and groups of friends gathered on rooftops, in parks and on streets for the three-day kite-flying festival. “Everyone is excited — all of Punjab, all of Pakistan. It has become hard to find kites and strings because they sold out,” Shahzaib, a kite flyer, told AFP. Punjab authorities banned the festival in 200...

Members of the United States and United Kingdom diplomatic missions in Pakistan joined locals in celebrating Basant in Lahore, taking part in kite flying and expressing delight at the revival of the city’s traditional spring festival.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced on Sunday that Basant festivities in Lahore could continue till 5am on Monday, extending the previous deadline that was set to end today. Previously, the Punjab government had given the approval for Basant celebrations in the provincial capital for just three days, from February 6-8. But the provincial chief executive said in a post on social media platform X today: “Looking at the incredible energy, festivity, unity, and joy across Lahore, Punjab and Pakistan … I am pleased to announce that Basant celebrations timings are being extended till 5am tomorrow morning.” She said the extension was a “reward for the people of Lahore” for celebrating Basant with great discipline and for responsibly following all safety standard operating procedures. “Please continue to celebrate safely, stay away from electric wires, secure your rooftops, and follow all guidelines. Let’s make this historic Basant joyful, safe, and memorable for everyone.” she added. The kite-flying festiva...

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz praised Lahore residents for following safety SOPs during the Basant festival, saying the city celebrated with joy while upholding government guidelines.

The vibrant kite-flying fever in Punjab’s capital faded on Sunday as the three-day Basant celebrations drew to a close, marking the final day of the colourful festival with enthusiasm and cheer across Lahore.

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said the revival of Basant under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has reignited public enthusiasm and restored a festive spirit across Lahore.

LAHORE: As Basant festivities kicked off on Friday after an 18-year hiatus, at least six kite-flying-related injuries have been reported in the city so far. In December last year, the Punjab government lifted the ban on kite flying and allowed the celebration of Basant with strict regulations. The kite-flying festival was banned in 2007 in Punjab because of an increasing number of deaths and serious injuries caused by sharp strings, particularly to motorcyclists and pillion riders, as well as by celebratory gunfire. In the first incident, a 21-year-old man sustained injuries around his neck after coming in contact with a stray kite string in Lahore’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA). The young man was returning home from a local market on a bike when the string became entangled around his neck, leaving visible deep wounds. However, a police official claimed that the injured person was riding the bike without a safety rod. Earlier, the government had instructed the motorcyclists to install protective steel wire...

A man lost his life and at least five others, including children, were injured in separate kite-flying-related incidents across the city as Basant festivities commenced, rescue officials said on Friday.

The Lahore High Court has instructed relevant departments to put comprehensive safety plans in place to ensure the Basant festival is observed without incident.

The Punjab government has notified public holidays in the province on February 6 and 7 (Friday and Saturday) for Basant, said a notification. The notification was issued on Tuesday by the provincial government’s Services and General Administration Department, a copy of which is available with Dawn. “It is hereby notified for general information that 6th and 7th February, 2026 (Friday and Saturday) shall be observed as public holidays in the province of Punjab,” the notification said. On Sunday, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had announced a “long weekend” in the province, declaring a Basant holiday. “Punjab will enjoy a long weekend with Kashmir Day on February 5, a provincial Basant holiday on the 6th, followed by Saturday and Sunday. “We hope people across Punjab take this time to relax, recharge, and make the most of the break,” she posted on X. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has said dry weather with clear skies was expected for the majority of the Basant festival. “Mainly dry weather wi...

Kite enthusiasts in the provincial capital have spent more than Rs540 million on kites and strings over the past three days as preparations gather pace for the upcoming Basant festival, according to the Kite Association.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Tuesday said dry weather with clear skies was expected for the majority of the Basant festival, which is set to be celebrated in Lahore this week. “Mainly dry weather with clear skies is expected on 6th and 7th February, while dry weather with few cloudy conditions on 8th February, 2026 in Lahore during the Basant 2026,” the PMD said in a forecast posted on the social media platform X. It added that light westerly/north-westerly winds were likely to blow at the speed of 10 to 15 kilometres per hour, which was “suitable for safe kite-flying”. The PMD advised the festival participants to “exercise caution while flying kites, especially near electric lines and open roads”. The three-day Basant festival is set to kick off in Lahore from February 6, following the Punjab government’s decision to lift a ban on the historic event after 18 years, with strict regulations. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has announced a “long weekend” in the province, declaring a “provi...

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has described Basant as more than a seasonal event, calling it a powerful expression of shared culture and collective joy.

Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb announced special measures to ease environmental pressure during the Basant festival, urging citizens to prioritize collective transportation over private vehicles.

Preparations for the revival of Basant are gathering pace as the Punjab cabinet has allowed the manufacturing of kite-flying material not only in Lahore but also in four additional districts, a move aimed at ensuring adequate supply ahead of the festival’s return after more than two decades.