LAHORE, Dec 11: The Punjab government decided on Thursday to allow kite-flying in Lahore from Feb 1 to the beginning of Muharram for Jashn-i-Baharan and Basant.

The district government had banned kite-flying in Lahore in July in view of the death of over 25 people including children whose throats were slit by string while travelling on motorcycles.

Power trippings caused by kite string were another reason for the ban which remained in force despite protests by kite buffs and those dealing in kites and string.

The provincial government has been patronizing Jashn-i-Baharan and Basant for some years, attracting scores of people from home and abroad to Lahore.

The decision to lift the ban was taken at a meeting presided over by Chief Secretary Hafeez Akhtar Randhawa.

The ban on kite-flying will be reimposed with the beginning of Muharram and will last till the outcome of findings of a committee formulated by

the Lahore Nazim to consider the hazards of kite-flying in the city.