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Kite-twine manufacturers’ profits take a cut this Basant

By Arshad Dogar

LAHORE: The Basant lovers in the provincial capital fear that the usually profitable business activity would prove a huge loss to the kite-twine manufacturers.

Irfan Ali, former director general of Tourism Department said that kite-twine manufacturers would face a huge loss, as they could not manufacture new stuff due to the shortage of time. He said that the use of prohibited material was to be expected during two days of kite-flying.

Malik Shafee, member of the Kite-Flying Association said that only dealers of kite-twine related material would benefit from the Basant festival whereas it would cause four times the loss to the manufacturers this year. He said that more than 12,000 people would be affected due to the curtailed time of kite flying.

He said that only one factory was producing the thread permitted by the government, which could not meet the demand. It takes more than three months to plan the manufacturing of kites and twine, he added.

Mr Ali was confident that the month of festivities would stimulate the economy. He added that this time more than 5,000 visitors from different countries of the world were expected to take part. When asked whether the curtailing time for kite-flying to only two days would affect the Basant festival, he said that Basant was not meant for kite-flying only. There were a number of other activities, he added.

Organiser of Lahore Basant Festival Syed Zulfiqar said that though the business of kite-twine Manufacturers would be affected due to the curtailed kite-flying activity but other Basant-related activities would boost the business.

He claimed that different stake holders of Basant festival will earn more than Rs 2 billion, adding that the preparation of traditional and regional food items, lodging and the city décor would provide income to thousands of poor families. Syed Zulfiqar estimated that “the 5,000 that come to Lahore during Basant will generate Rs 1 billion.”

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