Lahore Opens Basant 2027 Kite-Maker Registration Under Safety Rules

LAHORE: Authorities in Lahore are preparing to open registration for kite and related-material manufacturers on September 5 as the city begins early preparations for Basant 2027. The registration drive is part of a tightly regulated framework designed to allow the traditional festival while reducing the safety risks historically associated with kite flying in the provincial capital.

The Lahore district administration said manufacturers seeking to produce kites and permitted accessories for next year's festival will have to register through the dedicated Basant-2027 portal. Basant is scheduled to be held in Lahore from March 12 to 14, 2027, giving authorities more than six months to scrutinise producers, inspect manufacturing locations and regulate the supply chain before the festival begins.

An administration official said the first phase will apply only to manufacturers. Kite sellers, traders and associations are expected to be invited to register closer to the festival, with their registration process likely to begin in January or February. Officials say the early opening for manufacturers is intended to ensure an adequate supply of approved kites and related material while keeping products available at reasonable prices.

Lahore Deputy Commissioner retired Capt Muhammad Ali Ijaz said manufacturers will be required to obtain a no-objection certificate before starting production. Registration through the official portal will be mandatory, and production facilities will be monitored and inspected by special teams to ensure prohibited materials are neither manufactured nor supplied to the market.

The administration has reiterated that only approved kite sizes and cotton-based string will be permitted under the Safe Basant framework. Chemical-coated string and metallic wire, which have been linked to serious and sometimes fatal accidents in the past, will remain prohibited. Officials have promised strict enforcement against violations, while approved cotton thread will have to meet specifications set by the authorities.

The preparations follow Lahore's revival of Basant earlier in 2026 after an 18-year break. The festival was held from February 6 to 8 after the Punjab government allowed kite flying under the Punjab Regulation of Kite Flying Act, 2025, legislation passed by the provincial assembly in December 2025. The government restricted the initial revival to Lahore and treated the event as a controlled pilot project whose performance could shape future policy.

That return was accompanied by extensive security and safety arrangements. Authorities divided Lahore into risk zones, used Safe City cameras and drones for surveillance and coordinated police, district administration, Rescue 1122 and power-sector teams. Measures also included rooftop monitoring, inspections of locations used for kite flying, road-safety precautions and restrictions intended to protect motorcyclists from dangerous string.

Officials also warned against aerial firing, weapons displays and other activities capable of turning the cultural celebration into a public-safety threat. By starting the 2027 registration process months earlier than the festival, the administration is seeking to improve oversight of manufacturers and create a more traceable market for approved material. The next steps will include issuing NOCs, inspecting production sites and later opening registration for sellers and traders as Lahore prepares for the three-day Basant celebration in March.