LAHORE: Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz believes Basant-like events will revive the soft image of Pakistan and she is determined to revive Punjab’s culture.
“Basant’s revival is gaining international recognition and all hotels in Lahore are booked with people from abroad coming to celebrate Basant. The government aims to promote Punjab’s culture globally while ensuring a safe environment,” Ms Nawaz said while briefing the media on Basant arrangements.
The three-day Basant festival will kick-off on Feb 6 in Lahore, except some areas close to Lahore Airport.
“The response to the Basant pilot project has exceeded expectations and other cities will be reviewed after assessing its success. Basant has boosted economic activity worth billions of rupees, benefiting kite manufacturers, hotels and restaurants. However, I appeal to the public to strictly observe safety measures during Basant celebrations,” she said.
Says Basant pilot project exceeded expectations, other cities to be reviewed after assessing its success
She said the permission to celebrate Basant was only for Lahore and on Feb 6, 7 and 8, while kite-flying remained banned in the rest of Punjab. If a violation was committed, it would entail strict punishment, she warned.
The CM announced that travel on 419 buses, Metro Bus services, the Orange Line train and 6,000 Yango rickshaws would be free during the three days. She said that more than 700,000 motorcycles in Lahore had been fitted with safety rods and free safety rod installation camps had been set up.
She said that thermal drone surveillance was being conducted across all areas with real-time monitoring in place. “The government does not want to punish people, but enforcement of the law is necessary for public safety,” she said.
The CM said emergency arrangements had been finalised, including the deployment of ambulances, fire brigade vehicles and motorcycle rescue units, while assistant commissioners were heading the quick response teams in every tehsil of Lahore. She said violations of the Punjab Regulation of Kite Flying Act could result in imprisonment ranging from five to seven years and fines of up to Rs5 million.
The CM said the tradition of Basant went back to 1250, and the festival marked the arrival of spring. “It’s colour is yellow , as yellow symbolises life returning to the land. This is life returning to Punjab,” she remarked.
“We want people to own Punjab, its language and culture. Residents of Punjab should protect their culture and language as their historical heritage and take pride in it. Our Sikh brothers from Indian Punjab speak Punjabi with pride all over the world, whether it is US, Canada, UK or any other country,” she said and urged the Punjabi brothers and sisters to teach Punjabi to their children.
She also lambasted Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf for promoting the culture of “galam galoch (abusive language) and calling its opponents chor (thieves)”.
Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2026
