Punjab weighs Basant revival as PML-N lifts its own ban after 25 years

Punjab is set to revive Basant after 25 years under strict rules as Maryam Nawaz lifts a ban once imposed by Shehbaz Sharif, introducing tough safety measures through the new Kite Flying Ordinance 2025.

WEBDESK – MediaBites – December 3, 2025

LAHORE — The Punjab government is preparing to revive Basant after 25 years, signaling a return to traditional cultural festivities even as the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) grapples with criticism for reversing its own longstanding ban.

The latest move, led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, lifts the prohibition first imposed by her uncle, then–Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during an earlier tenure. However, the permission comes with some of the toughest conditions the province has ever set for the kite-flying festival.

The provincial cabinet has issued the Punjab Kite Flying Ordinance 2025, granting conditional approval for Basant and kite flying. The celebration is tentatively slated for the first week of February, pending the chief minister’s formal consent.

Officials say the government itself will promote the festival, a stark contrast from past years when PML-N insisted that Basant was too dangerous to restore.

Under the new ordinance, only kites flown with simple cotton thread will be allowed. The use of metallic, chemically coated or sharp string carries penalties of three to five years in prison and fines up to Rs2 million. Children under 18 are barred from kite flying altogether; any violation will be legally attributed to the parents or guardians.

The government argues that the strict safeguards are necessary to avoid the fatal incidents that led to the original ban. Supporters of the revival say the move marks a cultural comeback for Lahore and Punjab. Critics accuse the PML-N of political inconsistency — banning Basant in the past and now restoring it under tight controls.

With rooftops across Lahore expected to echo once again with cries of “Bo kata!”, the province appears ready to test whether Basant can be celebrated safely under an era of enforcement and oversight.