‘This is not a joke’: Punjab CM warns against violating rules ahead of Basant festivities in Lahore

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Friday warned citizens against violating the rules set for Basant, which is set to be celebrated in Lahore from February 6 to 8.

The festival is returning to Lahore after 18 years. The Punjab government has announced that there are no plans to celebrate Basant across the province and also notified a host of rules for the three-day festival.

Addressing a meeting on preparations for Basant, which was broadcast live on television, the Punjab CM said, “Basant was an 800-year-old festival; it is not just a festival but a metaphor for renewal.”

She said the festival was “our heritage” and celebrated around the world.

“I want to give the good news to the people that for the first time, we are celebrating a government-sponsored and government-organised Basant from February 6 to 8,” she said. She regretted that due to negligence, the festival became associated with accidents.

She said that she would give a detailed briefing to the people of Punjab on a plan for Basant in a few days, adding that a comprehensive plan had been devised to ensure safety during the festival.

“We have divided Lahore into three zones: high-risk zones, medium-risk zones and low-risk zones,” she said. “We have made rules and regulations in all of Lahore very strict,” she said.

The Punjab chief said that the province’s traffic police would provide over one million safety rods to bikers free-of-cost to ensure their safety.

She added that from manufacturers to traders, the whole “value chain” was being registered.

“Over 2000 registrations have been completed so far … and all of them have been geo-tagged,” she said.

The chief minister said that the government had also arrested those who flying kites before Basant, registering 621 cases.

“We have also confiscated over 27,000 kites … and taken over 10,000 surety bonds from the people,” she said.

Punjab CM said that vioalting the rules for permissible kite flying material could result in imprisonment of up to five years and not less than one year.

“These are grave punishments. They have been set to save precious lives, not to punish the people,” she said.

She emphasised that only pinna (twine balls) would be allowed, not charkhi (spool). She further said that strings made of cotton having no more than nine threads were allowed.

Strings with metal inclusions or nylon will not be allowed, she said. “For using non-permissible strings, one can face imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to Rs5 million,” she said.

She said if one flew a kite before the commencement of Basant, they could also face imprisonment and fines up to Rs2 million. She further said that if an underage child was found flying kite in such a situation, their guardian would be held responsible.

“This is not a joke. People’s lives are concerned,” she said.

She further noted that motorcyclists were the “most vulnerable”

“No bikers will be allowed in the red zones without safety rods,” she said. “You will face a Rs2000 fine for violating this law,” she said.

“I keep saying this again and again; this is for your safety. For your life, and for your health … if something happens to you, it is Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s responsibility,” she said. She further said that those reporting rule violations would be given an award by the district administration.

The Punjab chief minister further said that a kite larger than 35 inches would be allowed.

“This is a whole-of-government approach,” she said.

“Suthra Punjab’s team will be on the ground with full force, and over 4,000 police personnel will be deployed,” the chief minister said.

The Punjab chief minister also announced that “free rides” would be provided for the residents of Lahore during the festivities.

“Five hundred buses will transport citizens free-of-cost during these three days. Further, there are 6,000 Yango rickshaws [and] 60,000 Yango rides on 24 routes and the whole of Lahore will be covered by free transport,” she said.

“Orange line, Green line, metro buses and electric buses would be free on those days,” she added. “We are launching this so that the people may leave their motorcycles at home to avoid accidents,” she said.

The chief minister stated that there would be two control rooms: one at the Safe City headquarters and a second one at the commissioner’s office, which would ensure “minute-to-minute monitoring”.

She further announced that clinics on wheels and field hospitals would be on duty, and local hospitals will stay on alert.

Punjab CM urged the people and media to avoid misinformation and advised the citizens to comply with the rules to ensure the safety and security of every individual.