LAHORE, Jan 28: The city district government has chalked out an elaborate programme of fairs, exhibitions and shows for Basant and spring festival to utilize the occasion as a tourist attraction.

The festival will be inaugurated at the Racecourse Park on February 1. The three-day Basant festivities will start simultaneously at the Racecourse Park, Iqbal Park, Saint Mary’s Park and Gulshan-i-Iqbal Park from February 7. A two-day TDCP Basant extravaganza at the Shahi Hammam will start on February 8 and conclude on March 30 with a 10-day Moharram interval. The Eidul Azha will also be celebrated during the festival.

World Cup matches will be shown live on big screens to be installed at the Racecourse Park, Model Town Linear Park, Gulshan-i-Iqbal Park, Mochi Gate, Minar-i-Pakistan, Ali Park, Township, Kot Lakhpat, Northern Lahore and Harbanspura.

Other festivities include a six-day tent pegging competition starting at the Fortress Stadium from February 3; food and crafts and birds and flower festivals at the Racecourse Park and food streets of Gowalmandi and Old Anarkali and musical shows and tourist festivals at Lawrence Gardens, Lahore Township, Jallo Park and Model Town Park. Arts Council will also organize special cultural programmes during the festival which would conclude with a colourful parade from Racecourse Park to Jail Road on March 30.

Announcing the details of the Basant and Spring Festival at a press conference at the District Nazim House here on Tuesday, Nazim Mian Amer Mahmood and Naib Nazim Farooq Amjad Mir said the TDCP, Punjab Arts Council, Parks and Horticulture Authority, National Highway Authority and the Lahore Electric Supply Company would collaborate with the city government for making the Basant and spring festival a colourful and successful event. A brochure containing detailed programmes of the festivities would be distributed among the passengers arriving in the city at the airport and the bus stands.

They said the CDG would facilitate celebration of the Basant and spring festival without spending any funds of its own. All the events during the festival would be sponsored. The city was already given a facelift for the festival by hanging colourful flags and banners, repairing street-lights and signals, and removal of encroachments and accumulated solid waste.

They said a control room was being set up at the DCO’s office to monitor the activities and deal with any possible public complaints. Special committees had been formed to organize different programmes during the festival.

They said use of chemical string or steel wire for kite flying and firing in the air had been declared an offence and would be dealt with sternly. Special teams would tour the city on Basant to nab the violators.

They said everyone holding a Basant party for 100 or more guests would have to inform the area police for proper parking and security arrangements.