Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari on Wednesday announced that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had decided to mark Basant 2027 in Lahore for 10 days, from Jan. 29-Feb. 7.
In August, Nawaz had announced on X that Basant would take place from March 12-14, marking a change to the schedule for the anticipated spring festival.
In a post on X, Bokhari described the 10-day event as a “gift” for the public. “In line with Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s directive, Basant will be celebrated from Jan. 29 to Feb. 7,” she wrote, adding there would be a one-day suspension of celebrations on Feb. 5 to observe Kashmir Day.
According to Bokhari, the 10 days of Basant aim to globally project the cultural colors of Punjab, as well as Lahore’s historical traditions. She said the chief minister had emphasized the need to enhance measures for citizens’ safety and convenience.
“To ensure the protection of human lives, set a new example like last Basant with a sense of duty, responsibility, and empathy,” she said, dubbing it an appeal for the public from the chief minister.
Basant returned to the skies of Lahore after more than two decades in February 2026 following the provincial government’s abolition of a ban on kite flying. The three-day festival was conducted under strict guidelines to ensure public safety, with motorcycles required to install safety rods and sales of string and kites restricted to designated spots.
During the event, to boost public participation, the Punjab government had also declared free transport within Lahore. According to the provincial government, around two million people had availed the free facilities during the event, while estimates of the economic impact span in the hundreds of millions of rupees.