Basant Festival

Lahore's skies are about to explode in color again! After a 25-year ban, the iconic Basant Festival is back, greenlit by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. This centuries-old spring bash – think endless kites, thumping music, rooftop feasts, and that electric buzz – returns under the Punjab Kite Flying Ordinance 2025. "Completely safe, regulated, and monitored," promises the CM, reviving a tradition that's drawn global eyes to our City of Gardens.

Register Your Basant Business: Mandatory Under the Ordinance

No flying solo – all kite-related biz must register via eBiz Punjab portal for a 1-year license (renewable). Safety-checked materials only. Here's how:

Requirements (Same for All):

• Valid CNIC (business handler).
• Active email.
• Registration fee receipt (nominal, ~Rs1,000).
• Verified business address (utility bill/NOC).

Choose Your Category: CategoryWho It's For Next Steps

Seller Retailers of kites, strings, boomerangs, accessories eBiz > Retail

License

Trader Wholesalers/distributors in the supply chaineBiz > Wholesale Permi

Manufacturer Kite/string makers (only approved cotton/nylon eBiz > Factory Approval

KFA Kite Flying Associations/clubs/event organizers eBiz > Event NOC

Redirects straight to ebiz.punjab.gov.pk. Applied early last week? Approval in 48 hours. Rooftop owners: Get community NOC too.

Post-2005 tragedies led to the ban, but CM Maryam's nod flips the script. The new ordinance bans chemical strings (glass-coated banned outright), mandates cotton/approved lines, and deploys drones, police, and spot fines up to Rs500,000. Rooftop flying? Only in designated zones. Lahore's Gulberg, Model Town, and DHA gear up – expect controlled events, not chaos.

It's cultural gold: UNESCO vibes for kite heritage, tourism boost, and spring fever without the strings-attached risks.