Four Punjab Districts Allowed to Produce Kite-Flying Material Ahead of Basant Festival

LAHORE: The Punjab government has approved the manufacture of permissible kite-flying material in four additional districts—Faisalabad, Kasur, Multan, and Sheikhupura—responding to rising demand and increasing prices ahead of the upcoming Basant festival in Lahore.

Basant will be celebrated in Lahore from February 6 to 8, 2026, under tight restrictions. After an 18-year hiatus, the provincial government lifted the ban on the festival, but celebrations remain limited to Lahore, which until now was the only district permitted to produce kite-flying material.

A government directive instructed manufacturers in the newly approved districts to register with the relevant deputy commissioners and via the provincial e-Biz digital portal, ensuring they produce only “permissible kite-flying material.”

Only cotton string is allowed for kite-flying during the festival. The production or sale of metallic strings or kites exceeding specified sizes is strictly prohibited. The regulations set maximum dimensions for kites, including 1.5 Tawa Gudda (width 40 inches, length 34 inches) and 4.5 Guddi Kite (width 35 inches, length 30 inches). Kites bearing images of individuals, religious symbols, flags, or political party emblems are also banned.

Manufacturers in Faisalabad, Kasur, Multan, and Sheikhupura are only permitted to sell their products to registered traders in Lahore, and sale to any other party is strictly forbidden. Traders in Lahore are additionally allowed to procure permissible kite-flying material from other provinces, including Peshawar, Haripur, and Abbottabad, with approval from the Lahore deputy commissioner.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz confirmed that each twine ball, or pinna, will carry a QR code, enabling tracking from manufacturer to seller to buyer. She emphasized that all producers are registered and compliant with the prescribed safety standards, and any supplies from outside Punjab must meet these specifications.

For safety around flight paths, the provincial cabinet approved restrictions on kite-flying near the Allama Iqbal International Airport. Specific areas, including Nadrabad, Gulshan Ali Colony, Nishat, Bhatta Chowk, DHA R, S, P, and Q blocks, as well as Al-Faisal Town, Joray Pul, Canal Bank Road, and Tajpura, will be declared no-fly zones for kites. Authorities will enforce Section 144 in these areas to prevent rooftop kite-flying, minimizing risks to aircraft during takeoff and landing.