LAHORE: The plan to hold much-anticipated Basant festivalinLahoreforthesecondconsecutive year in 2027 has witnessed yet another twist on Thursday as the Punjab government officially reverted to its original plan, scheduling the three-day event for March 12, 13, and 14, prompting Lahoredeputy commissioner to formally notify the dates, along with a strict set of safety conditions, restrictions and guidelines.

The reversal follows a formal nod from the Punjab cabinet on a summary moved by the deputy commissioner, routed through the provincial home department. It brings to an end weeks of administrative confusion sparked earlier by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz by abruptly announcing an extended 10-day Basant celebrations from Jan 29 to Feb 7.

The chief minister`s surprise 10-day timeline had triggered widespread anxiety and push back. Kite and twine manufacturers slammed the squeezed manufacturing timeline as `virtually unfeasible,` citing massive logistical hurdles and economic strain.

Behind closed doors, theannouncement caught the provincial executive off guard.

Facing a regulatory nightmare and a compressed timeline, top bureaucrats scrambled behind the scenes to steer the administration back toward the original schedule. Officials argued that a shorter, tightly-managed three-day window was vital to enforcing the rigorous safety infrastructure required for holding a truly `safe Basant` in Lahore.

With the dates now locked in for mid-March, the district administration faces the critical task of balancing cultural revival with public safety standards.

Following issuance of the notification, DC retired Capt Ali Ijaz, in a statement on X (formerly Twitter) said, `Basant 2027 is ON in Lahore!` He stated `kite flying has been allowed during March 12-14, 2027, with govt approval, under the Punjab Regulation of Kite Flying Act.

He stated that only registered sellers would be allowed to sell kites and twine, while chemical/ metal dor (twine), nylon and charkhi (spool) would remain prohibited, and that there would be a complete ban on flying kites near airport paths, advising, `Celebrate safely, Lahore! Earlier in the day, Home Secretary Dr Ahmad Javed Qazi presided over a meeting attended by Commissioner Nauman Yousaf, deputy commissioner, DIG Operations Faisal Kamran and other officers concerned. They discussed measures to protect human lives during the Basant festivities.

The home secretary ordered that no unsafe or weak roof top would be allowed for kite flying in the city. He made it mandatory for all rooftops, intended to be used for Basant, to have a strong protective wall at least 3.5 feet high by Dec 31, 2026.

The home secretary directed the Lahore deputy commissioner to inspectall city rooftops to be used for the festival and ban Basant on sites with unsatisfactory safety reports, while ensuring that approved locations have completed necessary repairs of rooftops, parapets, and staircases before the deadline.

House owners will also bear full responsibility for rooftop durability, safety, and securing nearby electric wires.

The district administration, police, and relevant departments must strictly enforce safety instructions, with DC authorised to seal violators` buildings and monitor the manufacturing, transportation, and sale of kites and string.

In order to prevent string injuries, the city traffic police will install free safety rods on more than two million motorcycles before Basant.

`Complete ban on kite flying will remain in force before and after the notified dates,` the home secretary instructed. Violation outside March 12-14 will invite a five-year imprisonment and Rs2 million fine, he said, adding that citizens should report any unsafe or illegal activity on emergency helpline 15.