LAHORE: The Lahore deputy commissioner (DC) on Friday gave the formal go-ahead for three-day Basant festivities in the district from March 12-14 next year, outlining guidelines, conditions and restrictions for the celebrations.

Basant returned to Lahore earlier this year after an 18-year hiatus, the way for which was paved by the passing of the Punjab Regulation of Kite Flying Bill, 2025 by the provincial assembly on December 24, 2025. The legislation authorised deputy commissioners to grant conditional permission for kite-flying — which otherwise remains banned in Punjab — on specified days and at designated locations.

In August, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced that the festival would next be celebrated from March 12-14.

On Friday, the decision was formalised in notification by the Lahore DC.

The notification, a copy of which is available with Dawn, said that kite-flying would be allowed in Lahore during Basant 2027 except at designated prohibited zones and subject to certain conditions.

“Kite-flying through the use of permissible kite-flying material, as specified in Schedule-I of the Punjab Regulation of Kite Flying Rules, 2025 and Punjab Kite Flying Regulations, 2025 shall be allowed from March 12-14, 2027,” it added.

The notification said the manufacturing of permissible kite-flying material would be allowed from Sept 5, 2026 to March 14, 2027, subject to valid digital registration.

Trade, including the purchase, transportation and storage of the material, will be permitted from Feb 1, 2027 to March 14, 2027 while sales to the general public will be allowed from Feb 10, 2027 to March 14, 2027, exclusively through registered sellers.

The notification further said that no manufacturer, trader, or seller should manufacture, trade, store or sell permissible kite-flying material unless registered with the deputy commissioner through the government’s eBiz application.

“Patang (kite) shall not exceed four-and-a-half githi (span of a hand) and 35 inches in width and 30 inches in length,” it said.

“Gudda (a large kite) shall not exceed one-and-a-half tawa and 40 inches in width and 34 inches in length,” the notification added.

The kite string, known as dor, shall only be wound in the shape of pinna, it must be made of cotton with no more than nine taars (threads) and no fewer than 28 counts and shall be coated with maanjha having a minimum sheesha size of 350 mesh.

“Preparation, coating, treatment or processing of dor or maanjha shall be strictly restricted to maya (laundry starch), 350-mesh glass powder and only rice flour, and no other material, chemical, adhesive, hardener, abrasive, metallic substance or strengthening agent, including rema tip top, amri powder or any other material having similar properties or effect, whether used individually or in combination with the permitted material shall be added, mixed or applied at any stage,” the notification said.

The DC also prohibited the manufacture, trading, transportation, storage, sale, possession and use of charkhi, sharp maanjha, metallic wire, nylon (plastic) dandi, and any other thread coated with sharp maanjha or any other injurious material.

Registered manufacturers, traders and sellers will be required to “conspicuously” display their valid registration certificates at approved premises for kite-flying.

“Complete stock, sales and movement records shall be maintained and produced on demand by registered manufacturers, traders and sellers to any authorised officer of the deputy commissioner.”

The notification further said that all registered kit-flying associations should comply with the functions assigned under the Punjab Regulation of Kite Flying Rules, 2025 and remain in close coordination with the deputy commissioner and his authorised officers for smooth and safe conduct of kite-flying.

Moreover, motorcycles in Lahore would be required to comply with all the safety measures, including the installation of safety rods, as specified in Chapter-III of the Punjab Kite Flying Regulations 2025 and guidelines issued by the Punjab government secretary and the Home Department under the kite flying law.

“All departments, attached departments, agencies and government organisations shall assist the district administration and police for strict compliance of [the] terms and conditions to ensure public safety,” the notification said.

According to the notification, kite-flying will not be permitted in the following areas of Lahore during Basant:

Aircraft approach path

• Nadirabad
• Gulshan Ali Colony
• Nishat Colony
• Bhatta Chowk
• DHA Lahore (blocks R, S, P and Q)

Aircraft take of path

• Al-Faisal Town
• Jorraypul
• Canal Bank Road (adjacent to tajoura)
• Tajpura

Basant had been banned in 2007 because of an increasing number of deaths and serious injuries caused by sharp strings, particularly to motorcyclists and pillion riders, as well as by celebratory gunfire. It was allowed to be celebrated for the first time since then earlier this year, but only in Lahore.