February 15, 2007	Thursday	Muharram 26, 1428

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LAHORE, Feb 14: At least 370 traders of kites and twines have applied for registration with the City District Government Lahore on the first day of a 15-day relaxation in a ban on the business.

Tariq Zaman, personal staff officer of the district coordination officer, has been designated as the registration officer.

Last year, 3,400 traders and manufacturers were issued licences but the number is likely to go down this year for a want of kite-related material in the market.

Separately, the DCO has written to town and union nazims to establish monitoring teams to ensure compliance with the Punjab Kite-Flying Ordinance and Rules framed for the Basant festival.

The UC nazims have been asked to form vigilance committees comprising one or more members of the council and other residents of the area, ensuring that every owner or occupier of a building being used to fly kites has obtained a prior permission by submitting a Form-C to the UC nazim.

The nazims may grant permission in a Form-D if they are satisfied that the applicant will follow the rules.

The applicants are to submit a Form-D with the station house officer before indulging in the sport.

Interestingly, the Kite-Flying Rules do not mention any procedure to get permission for the sport if a nazim is against the kite festival.