LAHORE: Motorcyclists will be fined from Feb 1 for riding without safety rods, announced Capital City Police Officer Bilal Siddique Kamyana on Wednesday.

The announcement was made at a ceremony held at the Town Hall to launch the installation of safety rods and a public awareness campaign under the “Safe Basant” initiative.

The event was organised jointly with Lahore Commissioner Maryam Khan and attended by senior officials, including Lahore CTO Athar Waheed, Lahore Deputy Commissioner retired Capt Ali Ijaz and representatives of Rescue 1122, health, education, LDA and PHA.

During the ceremony, safety rods were installed on motorcycles and awareness pamphlets were distributed among citizens.

CCPO says zero tolerance for aerial firing and action will be taken against parents or guardians of children for illegal kite flying

Addressing the gathering, the CCPO said the Basant Safety Plan aimed to ensure the protection of life and property. Under the initiative, one million motorcycles would be fitted with safety rods free of cost.

He reiterated a policy of zero tolerance for aerial firing, warning that strict legal action would be taken against violators. He added that a special traffic management plan had also been devised for the festival.

Sharing enforcement details, Mr Kamyana said police had registered 1,078 cases and arrested 1,115 individuals during the ongoing month in operations against illegal kite flying. He said that more than 40,000 illegally manufactured and sold kites and 926 spools were also seized. He clarified that kite flying would only be permitted on Feb 6, 7 and 8, and strict action would be taken against violations on any other day.

“Legal action would also be initiated against parents or guardians of children found involved in illegal kite flying,” he said.

The CCPO said round-the-clock monitoring would be carried out during Basant through special control rooms at the Safe City Authority and the commissioner’s office, using CCTV cameras and drones.

He urged the media to play a responsible role in promoting safe celebrations from Feb 6 to 8.

100 camps: The district administration has set up 100 safety camps across the city for its “Safe Basant” campaign aimed at protecting citizens by installing safety rods on motorcycles.

Commissioner Marryam Khan, CCPO Bilal Siddique Kamyana, DC retired Capt Ali Ijaz and CTO Dr Athar Waheed participated in the campaign on Wednesday to review the installation of the safety rods on motorcycles.

Speaking on the occasion, Commissioner Ms Khan said that a special campaign had been launched for the safety and security of citizens, especially bikers. She said that free safety wires were being installed on motorcycles as part of the campaign from 100 camps across the city, including the Town Hall.

She said that during the three-day Basant, no motorcycle would come on the roads of Lahore without safety. Under the Kite Flying Ordinance 2025, motorcycle riders were required to install safety wires or rods. The three-day “Safe Basant” was being held only within the limits of Lahore district from Feb 6 to 8, she added.

She said that kite flying was not allowed in the Lahore district before Feb 6 and the sale of kites and strings in the city was allowed only from Feb 1 to 8.

The commissioner said that kite flying material manufacturing was also allowed only in Lahore district and only registered manufacturers, traders and sellers would be allowed to do business. She instructed a strict crackdown on violation of any of the rules of “Safe Basant”.

During the Safe Basant Cultural Festival, all departments would be supporting the district administration and police.

Commissioner Ms Khan appealed to the citizens that the district administration was taking biker safety measures for a safe Basant. She said that citizens must install safety rods on motorcycles, and free ride service was also being provided in the city during Basant days. Every step would be taken to protect citizens and they should also play their key role for a safe Basant, she added.

The Lahore DC also appealed to citizens to install free safety rods from the Safety Rods Camp established in Lahore city.

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2026