Authorities seized over 90,000 kites and 5,000 hazardous strings, warning of strict action against violations
During the hearing, Advocate Azhar Siddique, appearing on behalf of the petitioner, argued that the Kite Flying Act 2025 was in violation of the fundamental principles enshrined in the Constitution. PHOTO: REUTERS
The Lahore police has revealed that a total of 5,915 cases were registered against kite-flying between 2024 and 2026.
In a detailed report to the Lahore High Court on Wednesday, the police said strict action was taken against those involved in kite-flying over the past three years. The data also included ongoing cases shared by the Lahore police chief in connection with Basant-related activities.
In 2024, 3,534 cases were registered, the highest in the three years. In 2025, 1,918 cases were recorded, including one fatality linked to kite-flying. So far in 2026, 463 cases have been filed with no fatalities reported.
Over the three years, authorities arrested 5,270 individuals involved in kite-flying. Injuries related to kite incidents included 10 in 2024, two in 2025, and none in 2026. Police also seized more than 90,000 kites and over 5,000 chemical and metallic strings, which are considered hazardous.
The report underlined the need for strict enforcement of kite-flying laws and warned that any illegal activity would be met with “immediate and effective action”.
Read: Cases registered against kite-flying
Meanwhile, a petition was filed in the Lahore High Court over a fatal kite-string incident in Lahore Cantt, where a citizen’s neck was slashed by a kite string on Friday.
The plea, submitted by Head of the Judicial Activism Panel Azhar Siddique, named the Punjab government, Lahore police chief and other officials as respondents, and described the Basant festival as a “bloody festival” that endangered public safety.
The petition urged the court to ban chemical-coated kite strings, take strict action against their manufacturers and sellers, and hold negligent police officers accountable.
It also called for a compensation policy for those injured or killed due to hazardous kite strings, citing previous incidents, including the death of 21-year-old Yousaf Munir last October, who was killed by a metal-coated string in Nawan Kot.
