At the same time, the government and district administration have rolled out strict safety and environmental rules to ensure the festival is celebrated without harm.

According to official sources, more than 340 million kites and kite strings have already been sold in Lahore, reflecting the massive public interest in the traditional festival. However, this year’s celebrations come with clearly defined limits and close monitoring.

The authorities have fixed the approved size of kites and reels. A kite must not be longer than 30 inches and wider than 34 inches, while the reel (gudda) cannot exceed 34 inches in length and 40 inches in width. Only traditional reel sizes pona tawa, tawa, and derh tawa are allowed, with prices ranging from Rs 350 to Rs 800.

To reduce the risk of injuries and environmental damage, only cotton thread is permitted for kite flying. Each thread may contain no more than nine strands. The use of nylon or plastic thread is strictly banned. For kite string coating, only glue, plain color, flour, and weak glass are allowed. Officials have made it clear that any violation will lead to immediate action.

In local markets, a single reel of kite string is selling for Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000, with each reel containing around 2,000 meters of thread, as approved by the government.

Public safety remains a top priority. Motorcycle riders are required to install protective safety rods (antennas) to prevent accidents caused by kite strings. Those failing to comply are facing legal action under Section 188, and cases are being registered against violators.

To handle emergencies, all teaching hospitals across Punjab will remain open on February 6 and 7. Emergency services, outdoor patient departments, and indoor wards will operate fully to respond to any incidents during the festival.

In a high-level meeting chaired by Provincial Minister for Housing and Urban Development Bilal Yasin, all ongoing development project sites were declared no go areas. Only authorized staff will be allowed entry. The minister directed officials to ensure complete covering of sites and proper lighting, while WASA development work will remain suspended during Basant.

The district administration has decorated the city with a Basant theme, while teams are inspecting rooftops considered unsafe. Dangerous buildings are being closely monitored, and residents are being personally warned about potential risks. Awareness campaigns are also underway in homes and educational institutions.

Drone cameras are being used to inspect rooftops, and registration of all hosting rooftops is mandatory. Quick Response Teams will check rooftop No Objection Certificates (NOCs), and any violation will result in swift enforcement.

For crowd management, seller registration is ongoing at sealing points across the city, including red zones. So far, over 2,276 sellers have received NOCs.

To ease traffic pressure, the government has announced free public transport from February 6 to 8, including buses, Metrobus, and the Orange Line Metro Train. Citizens are advised to avoid private vehicles and choose collective travel.

The administration’s message is clear: celebrate with joy, but act with care. Basant is meant to be a festival of color and culture not risk. With shared responsibility and caution, Lahore hopes to enjoy a peaceful, safe, and memorable Basant.