Maryam Nawaz vows safe Basant as Punjab revives spring festival

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has announced a three-day Basant festival in the province, saying that everyone has the right to celebrate freely as Punjab belongs to all.

Chairing a meeting to finalise arrangements for the festival, Maryam Nawaz said she had come to “return joy to the people of Punjab”.

She said the people had been deprived of happiness and pushed towards conflict and unrest, adding that Punjab is a land of warmth and culture but its citizens were kept away from healthy recreation.

The chief minister said that after 30 years the Horse and Cattle Show was revived last year and would be held again this year.

“Whether it is Eid, Holi, Christmas or Ramazan, people of every faith have the full right to celebrate their festivals,” she said.

Calling Basant an 800-year-old tradition that heralds the arrival of spring, Maryam Nawaz said the festival is an integral part of Punjab’s culture and heritage, which is recognised across the world.

She announced that a government-sponsored and organised Basant festival would be held for the first time on February 6, 7 and 8.

Terming the association of Basant with past accidents unfortunate, the chief minister said a comprehensive safety plan had been devised to protect citizens.

Lahore has been divided into red, yellow and green zones, while safety rods are being installed free of cost on one million motorcycles across the city.

Maryam Nawaz said that 2,150 manufacturers, traders, shopkeepers and other stakeholders had been registered for the festival.

She said that more than 600 cases had been registered and 641 people arrested ahead of Basant for illegal kite flying, while over 27,000 illegal kites had been seized. More than 10,000 surety bonds have also been obtained.

She stressed that the safety plan was aimed at protecting the public, not punishing them.

During Basant, spinning reels (charkhi) will be banned, and only “panna” could be used.

She said that only cotton kite string made of nine threads will be allowed, while nylon and metallic strings will be strictly prohibited.

The chief minister said that flying oversized kites and guddas would not be permitted.

She said that use of prohibited string will be punishable with up to five years in prison and a fine of up to Rs5 million.

Kite flying outside the designated dates of February 6, 7 and 8 will also invite fines and imprisonment.

She said that parents and guardians will be held responsible for illegal kite flying by minors.

She said kite flying was not a joke but a matter of public safety. Motorcycles will only be allowed in red zones with safety rods installed, while riding without them will result in a Rs2,000 fine. Rewards will be given for reporting illegal kite flying.

Under the Basant plan, 35-inch kites and 40-inch guddas will be permitted during the three days.

A special traffic plan has also been prepared, with 100 traffic police camps to be set up across Lahore. More than 40,000 police personnel, along with Suthra Punjab workers, will be deployed for duties, and areas with past string-related incidents will be declared red zones.

Maryam Nawaz announced free transport facilities under the Basant Transport Plan to discourage motorcycle use.

A total of 500 buses will operate, while travel on the Orange Line, Metro Bus, electric buses and feeder buses will be free. She said 6,000 yango rickshaws will provide 60,000 rides across 24 routes.

She added that special control rooms have been set up at the Safe City Authority and the Commissioner’s Office, which will remain on high alert round the clock. CCTV cameras and drones will be used to monitor the festival throughout the three days.

The chief minister said comprehensive police, fire brigade, ambulance and health plans had also been finalised.

She urged the public not to pay attention to misinformation or rumours, saying Basant was meant for public enjoyment and celebration.

Maryam Nawaz said that the Basant Festival would be officially launched on the night of February 6, with full-scale celebrations beginning on February 7.