The Punjab Assembly on Tuesday enacted a total ban on kite flying across the province through the Punjab Prohibition of Kite Flying (Amendment) Act, 2024.
The ban, earlier approved by the provincial cabinet, applies to the manufacture, transport and flying of kites. It also specifically cites metallic wire, nylon cords and any other thread that has been coated with material injurious to health.
Under the amended law, any individual caught flying kites faces 3-5 years’ imprisonment or a fine of Rs. 2 million, or both. Failure to pay the fine can result in an additional year of imprisonment. Manufacturers and transporters of kites, meanwhile, face 5-7 years’ imprisonment, or a fine of Rs. 5 million, or both. Failure to pay the fine can add two years of imprisonment to violators’ sentence.
The new law states that any minor caught flying kites would face a fine of Rs. 50,000 for their first offense. On the second offense, it states, a fine of Rs. 100,000 would be imposed, while a third offense would be penalized under the Juvenile Justice System Act, 2018, potentially including imprisonment.
In a statement, Kite Association Vice Chairman Iqbal Ahmed urged the government to not ban the sport outright. He suggested a ban on metallic and chemical strings, adding the kite-flying Basant festival could be organized in open fields with strict restrictions on rooftop flying.
Basant
Until 2005, Pakistanis—particularly residents of Punjab—annually commemorated the Basant festival with kite flying. However, a surge in fatal accidents caused by razor-sharp strings led to the government imposing a ban on the festival.
The new law notes that “dangerous” kite flying has caused the deaths of many motorcyclists across the province. It states that enhanced punishments are necessary to deter the public from the festival and ensure public safety.