The Punjab Government on Wednesday issued the Punjab Kite Flying Ordinance 2025, which marked the return of the traditional kite festival — Basant — in the province after 25 years.

The festival had been banned by the government in 2007 because of an increasing number of deaths and serious injuries.

The newly issued ordinance called for the strict imposition of the safety and regulatory measures, which included the punishment of up to five years and a fine of up to Rs100,000.

Chemical-coated strings — which were considered deadly — were banned in the new ordinance.

According to the ordinance issued by the Punjab government:

• Registration of kite-makers and sellers has been declared mandatory.
• Violations of the law will carry a punishment of 3 to 5 years and a fine of up to 2 million rupees.
• Children under 18 will not be allowed to fly kites.
• The first violation of the law will result in a fine of 50,000 rupees; the second violation will carry a fine of 100,000 rupees.
• Chemical-coated string (manjha) will be completely banned.
• Shops will be required to display QR codes.
• The QR code will help in identifying businesses selling banned string.

Basant is a springtime kite flying event during the Basant Panchami festival in the Punjab.

According to the Punjabi calendar, it is held on the fifth day of the lunar month of Magha (in late January or early February), marking the start of spring.

In the Punjab province of Pakistan, Basant is considered to be a seasonal festival and is celebrated as a spring festival of kites. In the region, Basant Panchami has been a long-established tradition of flying kites and holding fairs.