A boy flies a kite from the rooftop of his house in Rawalpindi, maneuvering it against the clear blue sky as the afternoon sun casts long shadows. Photo: ONLINE
LAHORE:
What began as a colourful return of Basant festivities in Lahore quickly turned into a moment of grief and solidarity on Friday evening, as the Punjab government cancelled all related events following a deadly blast in Islamabad.
For most of the day, the provincial capital had slipped back into a familiar springtime rhythm.
Rooftops filled with families, music blared from speakers, and kites once again dotted the skyline after years of bans and uncertainty surrounding the festival. The organised celebrations, however, remained largely concentrated in specific pockets.
Much of the activity was centred around the Walled City, where authorities had made special arrangements and increased monitoring, while Gulberg — particularly the Liberty area — was set to host the government’s flagship Basant event.
A mega show at Liberty Chowk had been planned as the highlight of the day; however, in light of the Islamabad tragedy, the government suspended those celebrations.
Beyond these areas, the mood was noticeably restrained. For many residents, Basant no longer felt like the street-level, neighbourhood-wide celebration it once was.
With the price of kites and string rising sharply in recent years, and safety-compliant, QR-coded material costing even more, the festival appeared increasingly out of reach for lower-income families.
In several parts of the city, it seemed less like a mass celebration and more like a pastime for the affluent, with organised gatherings and better-stocked rooftops largely visible in upscale localities.
Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb congratulated citizens, saying all arrangements had been finalised and foolproof security measures were in place under the directions of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
She urged people to celebrate responsibly, stressing that the continuation of Basant would depend on public behaviour over the next few days.
Authorities repeatedly advised compliance with safety protocols. Motorcyclists were warned not to ride without safety rods, while citizens were told to use only QR-coded string and kites to minimise accidents.
Police and district administration teams remained deployed across key areas to enforce standard operating procedures.
However, the festive atmosphere did not last. By evening, reports of a suicide blast near an imambargah in Islamabad shifted the mood entirely.
Within hours, the Punjab government called off all Basant-related activities scheduled for the following day, including the much-anticipated Liberty Chowk show in Gulberg.
In a message on X, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said the decision was taken to express solidarity with the victims and their families during what she termed a national tragedy.
She directed authorities to extend full assistance to Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Twenty-five fully equipped ambulances were dispatched, hospitals were placed on high alert, and surgical teams, specialists, and blood banks were instructed to remain on standby.
“We stand with the families of the martyrs in this difficult hour,” she said, adding that those responsible would be brought to justice.
Azma Bukhari later confirmed the cancellation of all events, saying the government shared the grief of the bereaved families and would continue to confront terrorism with resolve.
