LAHORE, June 24: District Nazim Mian Amer has imposed a ban on kite flying and sale and production of thread and kites from July 1.

Speaking at a press conference here on Tuesday, the Nazim said the ban was being imposed under the provisions of Section 144, but the provisions of the Punjab Local Government Ordinance would also be invoked for the prosecution of those violating the ban.

He said the shops selling kites, thread and related material would be closed down, and nobody would be allowed to produce kites or treat thread with chemical or glass powder during the period.

The Nazim said the CDG would announce rules for regulating the flying of kites and related business on June 30. An action plan for the enforcement of the ban would also be announced simultaneously. A committee headed by the executive district officer (community development) and comprising police officials, tehsil municipal officers and councillors was formulating the rules.

He said the city government had been constrained to impose a ban on kite flying and production and sale of related material because irresponsible elements had turned it from a game into a threat to public life. Wapda suffered a loss of Rs1.5 billion due to power trippings resulting due to the use of metal wire in kite flying. Losses due to the damage to home appliances were in addition.

He said the CDG would now allow kite flying only as a game and ensure that it did not pose a threat to the lives of the people and disrupt power supply. He said those selling chemical or glass-quoted thread or metal wire for kite flying would not be allowed to continue their business.

Meanwhile, Kite Flying Association president Mohammed Shafi said the association supported the initiative taken by the Nazim to turn kite flying into a sport, once again. He said some 17 people had lost their lives after being injured by the string used for kite flying during this year. Four had lost their lives during the past few weeks.