January 11, 2007	Thursday	Zilhaj 20, 1427

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LAHORE, Jan 10: Supreme Court permitting, the Punjab government will allow strictly regulated kite flying and related business in accordance with a bill pending approval in the Punjab Assembly, official sources informed Dawn on Wednesday.

The government had on Jan 4 announced that Basant would be held in Lahore on Feb 24 and 25, revealing proposed terms and conditions for time-bound (regulated) kite flying and allied business. But the Supreme Court, which had banned kite flying in October 2005 in the wake of killing of a number of people due to sharp twine, took strict notice of the move the very next day and asked the provincial government to explain its stance on Jan 22.

After the ban, the provincial government had on Jan 22, 2006 promulgated the Punjab Prohibition of Kite Flying (Amendment) Ordinance which was ultimately moved in the assembly in the shape of a bill for adoption.

Official sources said the government had decided to allow Basant subject to an approval by the Supreme Court in the first place. And if the permission was granted, kite flying and related business would be allowed in the light of the pending law.

The proposed law provides that “the nazims, through a notification to be issued with the prior approval of the government, could allow kite flying and allied business for a period not exceeding 15 days during the spring season in a year provided that the kite manufacturing is allowed for such period as the government may specify by general and special order”.

The advocate-general will be asked to submit before court that the measures announced for regulating kite flying and related business were part of the regulatory framework proposed for making Basant harmless for the people.

Sources said (situation permitting) the regulatory framework like the proposed size of kites and type of twine would be incorporated in rules to be framed for the pending law. The bill was presented in the assembly last year and had already been approved by the standing committee concerned. The assembly will take it up for approval in its coming session.

The government, sources said, had announced date for Basant because it required prior preparations and the event could not be organised all of a sudden. Basant had become an international attraction and it was also necessary to announce its date for information of foreigners and expatriates who come here to attend it every year, they said.

“The government does not want to kill the activity, but at the same time it wants safety of the people,” they said.

Sources said the government would also find a way to incorporate enhanced punishments for violations of the pending bill in it. The bill provides for a fine up to Rs40,000 and imprisonment up to three years. But according to the announcement made on Jan 4, the government intends to enhance the fine up to Rs100,000 and imprisonment up to four years.

“We have proposed measures for safe Basant and kite flying in the light of the Supreme Court orders of October 2005. And we will proceed further again under directions by the apex court,” sources said.