LAHORE: As the three-day Basant festival is approaching fast, the shortage of various kinds of kites and strings persists across the provincial metropolis, leaving the people with no option but to procure the related material at much higher prices.

On the other hand, the Lahore city district administration seems to have no mechanism to ensure uninterrupted supply and availability of kites and string, enabling the people, especially those with financial constraints, to fully participate in the festival, Dawn has learnt.

“I visited Johar Town kite shops registered with the Basant portal, but couldn’t find kites and string there. I also checked kite shops in other parts of the city as well, but to no avail,” a Lahorite told Dawn on Tuesday. “I wonder where kites and strings have gone,” he says, demanding the authorities to take action in this respect.

According to another customer, kites and big Guddas are short in the market, and wherever these items are available, the shopkeepers are charging higher rates. Moreover, he says, the string has totally disappeared from the market.

Big gudda, string just vanished from shops, customers complain

“Only small kites are available at some of the shops and nothing else,” he adds.

According to a seller, a severe shortage of kites and string persists across the city.

“While the supplies are squeezed, how can we manage the customers and in this situation we have no option but to say sorry to them,” he argues.

Another seller confirmed to Dawn that he only has smallGudda (Tawa) at his shops. “I hardly managed to procure some Guddas (of 1.5 Tawa) and Patang from the wholesale market. And now I don’t have these items. I have only small Guddas (of 0.75 Tawa), but no string,” he explained.

Some wholesale dealers and distributors also claimed they have been left with no stocks, as the manufacturers have sold the entire material.

“I only have 4,000 to 5,000 small Guddas, as all Patangs and big Guddas have been sold to traders. We also don’t have string,” claims a manufacturer.

Another manufacturer also said the string has completely disappeared from the market. “I myself procured Pinnas (string), each measuring 2,000 meters, for Rs13,000 a piece. I don’t have 1.5 Tawa Guddas,” he adds.

Lahore Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Zukhruf Fida rejected the impression that the city administration lacks a mechanism to ensure the supply of kites and string.

“In fact, this is the first Basant being celebrated in the city after 18 years. And no one knew the exact demand for the related material. Surprisingly, the demand emerged to be more than 25 times higher than that of the last Basant held 18 years ago. If Basant is also held next year, the assessment of the demand for the related material will be precise,” he explained.

Mr Fida said that on Feb 1, kites and string worth Rs150 million were sold in the market.

He said that though there are less chances of hoarding of the Basant material, the administration has expedited inspections of warehouses of manufacturers and traders to curb it.

Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2026