Punjab government has completely banned Basant festival

Lahore: Provincial Minister for Food & Chairman Kite Flying Committee Bilal Yasin has said that Punjab government has completely banned Basant festival. He said that no notification with regard to celebrating Basant has been issued as this deadly trade is causing irreparable
loss to human lives.

He said this while presiding over a high level meeting of Kite Flying
Committee. Additional Secretary (Judicial) Home Department Sadal Khan
Loni, DIG Investigation Lahore, DIG Operations Lahore, DCO Lahore, SSP Investigation Sadr Lahore and representatives of District Police Okara were also present on the occasion.

Bilal Yasin directed DCO Lahore that the shops of those selling kites
and string in the market should immediately be sealed. He directed
police to take legal action against such people. DIG Operations told
the Provincial Minister that during last one week, Lahore Police has
registered 105 cases against the people involved in heinous trade like
kite flying. He told that during crackdown, factories preparing kites
were raided in Ichhara and Islampura and police took into possession
15000 kites and spools of kite string. He informed that police has
registered the cases and arrested the factory owners. He told that
these kites had been prepared for Changa Manga festival whereas
government has prohibited kite flying throughout the province.

DIG Operations further told that police is also taking action againstthe owners of those houses which are used for kite flying.
Bilal Yasin directed police officers to discourage kite flying and
the persons involved in this deadly trade deserve no leniency.