LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced on Tuesday that a comprehensive monitoring system has been put in place to guarantee the safety of the upcoming Basant festival. During an event held at the Basant control center, she emphasized that security arrangements for the kite-flying event are being strengthened to ensure public safety.
Addressing the gathering, CM Maryam clarified that kite flying will be permitted exclusively in Lahore during the three-day Basant festival, which begins on January 6. She assured that the provincial government is committed to making the event secure and enjoyable for all participants.
Her statement followed the Punjab cabinet’s decision to permit kite-flying in four additional districts Faisalabad, Kasur, Sheikhupura, and Multan—to accommodate the enthusiasm surrounding the festival. The government lifted a ban on kite flying last December after nearly twenty years, under strict conditions.
The CM praised Basant as a cherished cultural festival of Punjab and urged families to pass on the tradition, along with the Punjabi language, to younger generations, emphasizing that the event is a matter of regional pride.“Basant is a beautiful celebration of our culture,” she said, adding that Punjab is making progress and moving forward as a province. She highlighted her administration’s achievements, including the provision of advanced healthcare facilities such as free heart surgeries for children.
CM Maryam also claimed that Punjab is leading the country in technological innovation and artificial intelligence (AI). Taking a swipe at the previous PTI-led government, she criticized what she called a period of incompetence and chaos, stating, “While they were destroying national properties, we are working to preserve and beautify them.”
She further mentioned that law and order in Punjab has improved by 70%, and called on PTI leadership to shift their focus to the security challenges faced by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which has been severely affected by terrorism.
In response to ongoing safety concerns, the Punjab government announced plans to introduce legislation that would impose up to 10 years of imprisonment for theft, purchase, or sale of stolen manhole covers. CM Maryam emphasized that this step aims to curb the dangerous practice of stealing manhole covers, which has led to tragic accidents and fatalities.
