Lahore is preparing to celebrate Basant this year under a carefully regulated and digitally supervised framework as the city administration introduces drone surveillance and Safe City camera monitoring to manage the three-day festival starting February 6. The initiative reflects a growing emphasis on using technology in civic administration to oversee large public events and enforce compliance with safety and environmental regulations. The Parks and Horticulture Authority has imposed a ban on kite flying in public parks and greenbelts across the city, aiming to safeguard trees, plants, and park infrastructure from damage typically associated with large-scale kite flying. PHA Managing Director Raja Mansoor Ahmad stated that the decision was taken to ensure that festive activities do not compromise the city’s green spaces, especially given the expected influx of visitors from other cities of Punjab, other provinces, and abroad. With Lahore already hosting a substantial permanent population, the additional visitors arriving from February 4 evening onward, including those coming for the public holiday of Youm-i-Kashmir on February 5, are expected to increase footfall across public areas. Parks will remain open for public use, but kite flying will not be permitted in these locations, and PHA enforcement teams have been placed on high alert to ensure the ban is strictly implemented across all zones.
To further strengthen oversight, the city district administration has announced that Basant will be digitally monitored through drone cameras and Lahore Safe City Authority surveillance systems, with a dedicated control room being set up at the Deputy Commissioner’s office. The decision was revealed during a meeting chaired by Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Ali Ijaz, where it was confirmed that kite flying would only be allowed from February 6 to 8 and that all kite-related materials would be sold exclusively through registered dealers. The administration has also specified that kites exceeding approved sizes will not be permitted, and bikers will be required to use safety wires, adding another layer of precaution for public safety. Kite flying will only be allowed at specific grounds or officially notified rooftops, including locations in the Walled City and selected areas across the district, reflecting a shift towards designated activity zones supported by digital enforcement rather than unrestricted citywide celebrations.
Alongside digital monitoring, the city administration has introduced a comprehensive registration process for all participants involved in the kite trade. According to official records, a total of 2,437 kite manufacturers, sellers, traders, and associations applied for registration ahead of the festival. By January 22, 2026, 1,334 kite sellers had submitted applications, of which 1,107 were approved, 161 were under process, and the remainder rejected. Similarly, 838 kite manufacturers applied, with 697 approvals granted and 85 still being processed, while 51 applications were rejected. In the trader category, 250 applications were received, with 223 approved and 19 under review. Kite flying associations also underwent scrutiny, with 12 out of 18 applications approved. This structured approach highlights the administration’s intent to formalize what has traditionally been an informal sector, using digital records and approvals to improve accountability and traceability within the supply chain of the festival.
The decision to celebrate a limited Basant under strict conditions was taken by the provincial government in December last year, signaling a broader move towards controlled cultural events aligned with public safety and urban sustainability. By combining drone surveillance, Safe City cameras, regulated trade practices, and designated activity zones, Lahore’s Basant 2026 reflects how government digitization is being applied to cultural management, not just service delivery. The model demonstrates how technology is increasingly being embedded into Pakistan’s urban governance framework, allowing authorities to balance cultural traditions with modern requirements of safety, environmental protection, and organized commerce. This approach places Basant among the growing number of public events in Pakistan that are being managed through digital systems, reinforcing the role of technology in shaping the future of civic administration.
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