LAHORE, Jan 25: A battle of banners over kite flying is in the offing between the Lahore Electric Supply Company and beverage companies in the provincial metropolis with the start of Basant season.

The LESCO has hung hundreds of banners with the electricity poles cautioning the people against flying kites with metal wire and describing the pastime as a wastage of money. Some banners explain the damage done to its installation as a result of use of metal wire for kite flying and danger to the life and property of the revellers and other people. LESCO urges parents to keep an eye on their children and do not let them fly kites with metal wire.

Meanwhile, the banners displayed by a multinational beverage company around the busy crossings persuade people to celebrate Basant on the roofs of their houses. Attractive prizes have been promised to the people buying the beverage from the trucks of the company through scratch cards.

The city district government and the Parks and Horticulture Authority are encouraging the Basant celebrations as a part of the Spring Festival to be celebrated from February 1 to 23 and March 20 to 31. The celebrations will remain suspended during Moharram commencing from February 24. They encourage kite flying on Basant without metal wire. Special teams will be constituted to nab those flying kites with metal wires. Musical programmes will also be held at the Gulshan-i-Iqbal Park on February 1 and the Minar-i-Pakistan Park on February 7.

Arrangements will also be made for showing the World Cub matches on giant screens at both the places.