After the 21-year ban ended, elites celebrated in style, while grieving families remained in misery
Liberty Roundabout beautifully decorated with a huge kite model ahead of the upcoming Basant festival in the provincial capital. PHOTO: APP
LAHORE:
Once a symbol of culture and community, Basant now feels like a kitsch spectacle for the elite. Amid deafening music and flashy displays, the festival became a staged social media moment rather than a shared celebration. But beneath this surface lies a grim but familiar reality. While the elite pose for reels, it is the poor who pay with their lives.
In the first week of February 2026, a three-day Basant festival was held in Lahore after the government temporarily suspended a 21-year ban through an ordinance, allowing kite flying under certain conditions. While official records from the Home Department reported 17 deaths and 160 injuries, sources of the Express Tribune revealed that the death toll may be as high as 21.
Most deaths occurred due to falls from rooftops, with victims aged between 15 and 30. Some also died from electrocution or falling from trees. Specifically, 12 people died after falling from rooftops, while three died from electric shocks. Despite safety measures such as banning metallic strings and installing protective rods on motorcycles, more than 120 accidents were reported, injuring over 160 people.
The family of Zain Malik, who died after falling from a rooftop, felt that Basant had destroyed their home. “No government official has contacted us and no financial aid has been provided.” Similarly, the father of Ahmed, who died from electrocution, criticized the government for organizing the festival to please the elite while poor families lost their children, without receiving any compensation or support.
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Public policy advisor and social activist Salman Abid opined that in reality, the Basant festival, which was organized via an ordinance and limited to three days in Lahore, benefited the privileged class only. “Despite the government’s claims, kite flying continues beyond the permitted period, and authorities have failed to enforce the ban. Although 17 deaths were officially acknowledged, reports suggest up to 24 fatalities, and no compensation has been given to affected families,” said Abid.
In the meanwhile, the government reportedly generated over Rs3 to Rs4 billion in revenue during this period. It is estimated that kite and string sales alone generated between Rs2 to Rs2.5 billion. The government had reportedly permitted over 5,000 vendors to sell kites and strings.
A spokesperson for the Punjab government assured that the festival was allowed only for three days with defined SOPs, and cases were registered against violators. “A committee is considering compensation for the families of the 17 victims. Up to Rs3 billion was generated in revenue and people enjoyed the festival. The government plans to organize a “safe Basant” next year,” claimed the official.
According to the Punjab Home Department, in 2026 alone, over 8,000 people have been arrested and more than 7,200 cases registered for violations related to kite flying, mostly in Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, and Rawalpindi. A zero-tolerance policy is in place.
Records show that kite flying and manufacturing were first banned in Punjab in 2005 after more than 25 deaths. The ban was intermittently lifted in 2006 and 2007, but due to rising fatalities, it was reimposed in 2007. By 2024, over 2,020 people had lost their lives due to this deadly activity. More than 90 per cent of deaths occurred due to chemical-coated strings cutting throats or faces.
Despite its deadly history, Basant continues to be celebrated annually in cities like Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Multan, and others. On average, at least eight people die in a single day of Basant celebrations each year.
