LAHORE, Feb 1: The Punjab government is likely to allow kite business for 15 days and flying for two days in connection with the Basant festival to be celebrated in Lahore on Feb 24 and 25.

A permission to officially announce the dates for the purpose was sought by Lahore city district government from the Punjab Local Government department here on Thursday, and officials said it would be granted as per the request.

The permission was sought by the Lahore DCO for allowing kite and twine manufacturing and their sale from Feb 10 to Feb 25, and kite flying on Feb 24 and 25.

The permission was sought under the recently promulgated Punjab Prohibition of Kite Flying (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007, which provided for kite flying and its allied business for a maximum of 15 days in spring.

Meanwhile, the planning and development board, whose chairman is heading a committee, which had suggested measures for safe kite flying and its allied business, also sent model rules to the local government department for their notification.

The rules would soon be notified under the kite flying ordinance, official sources said. The rules would specify the size of kites, strength of thread and type of coating on it, they added.

According to the sources, the draft rules recommended a ban on charkhi (spool) and suggested introduction of traditional pinna (ball) of twine instead.

It also suggested a self-regulatory role for the single kite manufacturers and sellers association in a district. The district government will conduct yearly elections of the association.

The district government and police will proceed against violators of the ordinance and the rules only on a complaint to be made by the association. —Intikhab Hanif