Lahore: Basant celebrations have returned to Lahore after nearly two decades, triggering a sharp surge in kite-related business as sales of kites and string crossed PKR1.5 billion within the first five days of trading, according to representatives of the Kite Flying Association.
Advocate Malik Faizan Ahmed, legal adviser to the association, said more than one million kites were sold on the fourth day alone, along with over 20,000 spools of string, as demand remained strong despite rising prices. He added that daily trade volumes increased steadily, peaking at around PKR 680 million on the fourth day, pushing cumulative sales beyond PKR 1.5 billion by the fifth day.
Kite trading remained active across major commercial centres, including Mochi Gate, Islampura, Sanda, Samanabad, Nonarian and Ichhra, with both wholesalers and retailers reporting brisk business.
The Punjab government has officially allowed a three-day Basant festival from February 6 to 8 in Lahore, lifting a ban imposed in 2007 due to safety concerns. Strict regulations have been enforced, including the use of only cotton string, a ban on metallic or chemically treated string, restrictions on kite sizes, and prohibitions on kites carrying images, religious content or political symbols.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said the festival’s revival reflects Lahore’s cultural heritage but stressed that celebrations must follow safety standard operating procedures. She also announced a provincial holiday on February 6, followed by a weekend.
Authorities have deployed police and administrative teams to ensure compliance with safety rules. The chief minister has directed strict action against the sale and use of banned kite string, reiterating that kite flying is permitted only in Lahore and remains prohibited in the rest of Punjab.
Despite complaints over rising prices, the revival of Basant has significantly boosted economic activity linked to kite manufacturing and sales, marking one of the largest festival-driven trades in recent years.
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