LAHORE, Jan 20: The Punjab government on Saturday promulgated the Punjab Prohibition of Kite Flying (Amendment) Ordinance 2007, incorporating in it the recently announced measures to make the sport and its allied business people-friendly and enhancing punishments for violators.

The earlier ordinance which lapsed on Saturday was promulgated on Oct 21, 2006.

A related bill already approved by the Punjab Assembly’s standing committee concerned was pending approval.

According to the new ordinance, the ban on kite flying, imposed under the previous law, would continue. It retained the three-year imprisonment for violators but it had enhanced fine from Rs40,000 to Rs100,000.

The already announced reduced size of kites, strength of twine and its harmless preparation and ban on spool (charkhi) would be introduced through rules of the ordinance which, according to it, would be framed by the provincial government.

Punishment for a violation of the rules was prescribed as six-month imprisonment and Rs100,000 fine.

The previous ordinance did not authorise the government to frame any rules under it.

People intending to fly kites on rooftops of their houses or of any building, or at a public place like a park during the permitted days would have to seek a prior permission for it from the union nazim concerned.

Copies of the permission would have to be submitted before the SHO of the police station concerned, giving an undertaking that the applicant would not use or allow the use of prohibited kites and twine or any other dangerous material (like tandi or metal wire).

No-one would be allowed to fly kites without a permission even during the permitted days and violations would lead to six-month imprisonment and Rs100,000 fine.

The new ordinance authorised district governments to form a single registered association of kite manufacturers in a district. The association would comprise kite sellers or manufacturers and it would perform the role of a self-accountability body, ensuring the preparation and sale of only the prescribed kites and twine and elimination of dangerous material. It would also, under the law ordinance, report violations to the government for action.

The ordinance prescribed six-month imprisonment and Rs100,000 fine for selling kites and twine without registration.

The new ordinance retained the previous one’s article under which the government may allow kite flying and its business for a maximum period of 15 days

Officials said the new amendments to the law had been introduced to continue with Basant and kite flying while ensuring safety of the people and installations like the power supply system

They said the Punjab government had on Jan 17 submitted its reply to the Supreme Court, which had taken a suo moto action of its announcement of Basant on Feb 24 and 25 next.

The apex court had been conveyed the measures being taken to make kite flying and its allied business people-friendly. And that it had announced only tentative dates for Basant because it required time to prepare for it and, therefore, it could not make an announcement all of a sudden.

Nevertheless, the time-bound permission for kite flying and its related business for Basant would be announced only on the order of the Supreme Court.

Replying to a question, the officials said, if permitted by the court, the government could allow kite flying for two days on the occasion of Basant and its allied business for a maximum period of 15 days.