February 26, 2006	Sunday	Muharram 27, 1427

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LAHORE, Feb 25: Ban on manufacture, trade and flying of kites was relaxed throughout the country for 14 days from Saturday in compliance with the order of the Supreme Court.

The city district government continued issuing licences for the manufacture and sale of kites and flying materials from the Jinnah Hall throughout the day. As many as 1,800 licences were issued till the closing of DO (environment) office nominated as registration officer for the purpose. Nearly 500 more applications were received for issue of licences.

The shops of kite sellers opened after the issuance of licences but the sales remained low due to uncertainty about the observance of Basant in view of the ongoing protest campaign against the blasphemous cartoons.

The city district government is not only controlling the sale and manufacture of kites but has also decided to monitor large scale kite flying. The DCO on Saturday directed the hotels to seek CDGL approval for holding Basant festivals.

The city district government will formally lift the ban by issuing 1,800 licences for manufacture and sale of kites under the provisions of the Punjab Dangerous Kite-flying Prohibition Ordinance on Saturday morning. The licences will be issued for 14 days and will become invalid on March 11.

The DO (environment) received 318 applications for licences to manufacture and sell kites and thread on Thursday and 1,482 on Friday. The DCO on Friday issued a circular to the police chief, town municipal officers and nazims to ensure compliance with the restrictions regarding sale and use of glass-coated and chemical twine and metal wire for flying kites in the light of Supreme Court directions.

He asked them to constitute teams for regular monitoring of the manufacture and trading of kites and twine and kite fliers.