January 01, 2007	Monday	Zilhaj 10, 1427

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LAHORE, Dec 31: Kite flying during Basant will be allowed provided the kite dealers form a legal body and nazims furnish an assurance to prevent the sale of dangerous twine and control unruly buffs to minimise risk to life.

“We have asked the dealers to form an association which is legally bound to prevent the manufacture and sale of dangerous twine and big kites. Similarly, we have made it clear to the nazims that they would have to mobilise community to make kite flying a harmless sport if they want the ban lifted,” senior government officials informed Dawn.

They said the kite dealers had been asked to give a reply within a week so that the government could decide whether to allow the trade and the sport.

The government had, under instructions from the Supreme Court, banned kite flying last year after numerous people, including children, lost their lives because of the cutting of their throats by sharp twine

But now it intends to lift the ban to save Basant, an old sport of Lahore directly related to kite flying. But before doing so with the permission of the Supreme Court, it wants to ensure a complete ban on the manufacture, sale and use of sharp twine and big kites.

Officials say the kite dealers have especially been informed that the future of the business heavily depends on their own role in preventing the manufacture and sale of sharp twine.

“The government cannot control the sale of dangerous twine alone. For this, it needs active support from the stakeholders like dealers and community itself,” they said.

The government, they said, was trying to formulate a regulatory framework under which twine and kites could be sold only by licenced dealers so as to keep an eye on their sales.

According to the plan, an assurance on the conduct of the dealers would be given by the union council nazims concerned who would also be required to point out irregularities, if any. They would have to perform the watch and ward duty as police could not regulate the business and sport in the crooked and narrow lanes of the Walled City, or enter the houses of people.

Mohallah committees too are being considered for making kite buffs realise the importance of turning kite flying a harmless affair for the sake of its continuity. Police would act against violators only upon the complaint of such committees or the nazims concerned, they said.

Replying to questions, the officials said the association would be bound to regularly submit production and sale reports of every licenced dealer and manufacturer to the government.

They said motorcyclists would also be made to wear helmets and adopt other safety measures like fixing preventive metal wires on their vehicles as a protection against twine.

The officials said the ordinance promulgated last year by the provincial government to regulate kite flying and its business had some flaws. Now the government would make a better legal framework and have it approved by the Supreme Court.

Answering a question, they said since the sale of sharp twine was a crime, no one would be allowed to sell existing stocks. “Stocks have to be destroyed for the safety of the people and the game itself,” they said.