PHA asks Lahore govt to lift ban on kite flying

Staff Report

LAHORE: The Parks and Horticulture Authority has asked the Lahore district government to lift the ban on kite-flying for the duration of the spring festival.

PHA Director General Shabbir Ahmed told reporters at a ‘Meet the press’ in the Lahore Press Club that it was up to the district government whether or not to lift the ban, but the PHA felt that it would be good for the spring festival and for the people employed in the kite-flying industry. The PHA plans to hold the spring festival from February 6-22 next year.

However, Mr Ahmed said the PHA was fully behind the ban on kite-flying because it was a danger to people’s lives and to the electricity grid.

He said there were fewer signboards being put up in the city, but illegal banners and streamers were a nuisance. “Every single day PHA staff have to remove illegal banners and steamers from various areas in the city,” he said.

Mr Ahmed, who was appointed director general two and a half months ago, praised the work of previous PHA managers in beautifying the city. “Lahore was very different five years ago,” he said. “The PHA has done things like preserve the heritage of Lahore, by building food streets and illuminating the facades of historical buildings.”

He said a Tajdeed-e-Lahore board had recently been set up and an ordinance promulgated under which people would be punished if they damage historical buildings.

He spoke of some of the things the PHA is working on. The PHA would open seven swimming pools in the city and build a book street at New Anarkali. A mini-train would be run for tourists to visit food streets. Building a cable car from the Ravi to Jehangir’s Tomb was also on the PHA to-do list, he said.

Mr Ahmed said the authority was studying proposals to set up an arts and crafts bazaar and city museum in Tollington Market. The PHA was also building an open park for birds that people could walk through, and planned to develop parks in lesser known areas in Lahore.

He asked the public to inform the authority of any complaints about PHA facilities. “The PHA will definitely entertain all complaints regarding increased costs in parks being run by the PHA, excessive entry ticket costs and excessive parking fees. People must complain to the PHA if they come across any irregularities in PHA parks,” he said.

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