LAHORE, Dec 20: Charkhi or spool is likely to be banned in Punjab and the traditional pinna or a ball around which twine is wound, will be revived, official sources informed Dawn on Wednesday.

Officials said spool would be banned because of its sharp twine that could kill some one in contact with it.

The expected banishing of spool is part of measures being taken by the provincial government to revive kite flying a harmless sport.

The sport was banned last year after many people died because of sharp twine of kites.

Spool had replaced traditional pinna of late because of its easy handling. It came to Lahore from India decades ago.

Officials said charkhi was found to be the weapon of murder for two reasons: one, thick and sharp twine which kills people can easily be wound around it; and two, irresponsible kite flying fans operated it on electric motors to draw back twine after the cutting of their kites. During the process, twine would cut every thing in contact — throats of people, branches of trees and electricity wires.

According to officials, traditional pinna will be safe to use because: thick twine cannot be wound around it; one is required to wind twine around it by hand and therefore one would avoid using sharp twine to protect ones own hands from cutting; and people will themselves draw back twine after the cutting of their kites as pinna cannot be attached to a motor machine.

“Almost all stakeholders have agreed to it, and manufacturing and trade of spool would be a crime in the future,” officials said.

They said the government was likely to allow kite flying with all the safety measures one month before and one month after Basant. The final plan on how to allow it is likely to be announced early next month, they said.