LAHORE: With the revival of Basant set to draw large crowds to Lahore next month, the Punjab government on Monday imposed strict restrictions on the use of symbolic imagery on kites, invoking Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, to pre-empt any attempt to disturb public order during the festivities.
In an order issued by the Home Department, the government banned, with immediate effect, the manufacturing, trade, transport, storage, sale, purchase and use of kites carrying images or pictures of holy scriptures, religious places, individuals, national flags or flags of political parties anywhere in the province for a period of 30 days.
The move comes against the backdrop of official permission granted for permissible kite flying within the territorial limits of Lahore district from February 6 to 8, 2026, on the occasion of Basant. The approval was accorded by the provincial government and notified by the deputy commissioner, Lahore, on Dec 29, 2025, under Section 6(1) of the Punjab Kite Flying Act, 2025.
According to the Home Department order, intelligence and administrative reports indicated that miscreants could exploit the festival by displaying sensitive religious, political or national symbols on kites, potentially provoking controversy, discrimination or unrest. The government noted that there were “sufficient grounds” to take immediate preventive action to ensure that Basantremains a cultural and recreational event, free from any elements that could disrupt communal harmony or public peace.
To that end, the authorities have clarified that during the three-day festival in Lahore only plain uni-coloured or multi-coloured kites, commonly referred to as gudda or patang, will be allowed to be flown. Any kite featuring symbolic or representational imagery has been expressly prohibited. The order, issued by the secretary of the Punjab Home Department in exercise of powers under Section 144(6) of the CrPC, applies across the province and not just to Lahore, covering all stages of the kite supply chain. Violations are expected to invite legal action under the relevant laws.
Copies of the directive have been circulated to the chief secretary, the governor’s and chief minister’s secretariats, the police leadership including the inspector general of police and the capital city police officer, Lahore, as well as all divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners and district police officers for strict enforcement. The Information and Culture Department has also been tasked with disseminating the decision to ensure public awareness. Officials said the restrictions are part of broader efforts to balance the revival of Basant, a festival long associated with Lahore’s cultural identity with safety, legality and public order considerations, amid heightened sensitivities surrounding religious and political symbolism.
