LAHORE – After a long gap, people in Punjab province of Pakistan are likely to celebrate the Basant festival next year after the provincial government has relaxed the laws by unveiling Kite Flying Ordinance 2025.
Reports said the Home Department has finalised recommendations for the event and these will be sent to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for approval.
It has surfaced that the Basant festival will be celebrated in first week of February 2026. However a final decision is yet to be made in this regard.
Expected Schedule of Basant 2026 in Punjab
Earlier in the day, the provincial government introduced the Punjab Kite Flying Ordinance 2025, which regulates kite flying in the province.
Under the new rules, kite flying and Basant events will be allowed only with the approval of the deputy commissioners.
The ordinance mandates that kite manufacturers and sellers must register with the government, while kite flying organizations will also need to complete registration. After registration, they will receive licenses for kite production and sales.
In a significant move, the ordinance has fully repealed the 2001 Kite Flying Ban Ordinance. All actions previously taken under the old law have been validated.
The new ordinance gives the government and deputy commissioners the authority to permit kite flying at specific locations, on designated days, and within set time frames.
However, there is no clear definition of what constitutes “non-hazardous material” in the ordinance, which is mentioned in relation to kite flying.
The ordinance also grants extensive powers to the police, allowing officers with the rank of sub-inspector to arrest without a warrant, enter any premises for searches, and seize prohibited materials. The government can also delegate these powers to any institution or agency as needed.
