Kite markets remain closed on first day of ban

Staff Report

LAHORE: All kite markets in Lahore remained closed on Tuesday on the first day of the ban on kite-flying imposed by District Nazim Mian Amer Mehmood for three months.

The Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) did not receive any complaint of kite-flying from any part of the city. In a major development, Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) chief Kamran Lashari changed his stance in favour of the district government and dropped his opposition to the ban.

Police had warned the kite dealers of Mochi Gate, Akbari Gate and Krishan Nagar that the ban’s violation would not be tolerated. The ban, implemented under section 142 of the Punjab Local Government Ordinance, 2001, banned kite-flying and all related businesses for three months.

The Kite-Flying Association said the ban had deprived 10,000 families of their livelihood. However, sources said, the Kite-Flying Association and the Thread Works Association, could not decide what to do about a proposed stay order against the ban due to differences between them. Sources said it seemed that both organisations had decided to comply with the ban on the assurance that their warehouses would not be raided.

LESCO chief Brig Raiz Toor swore to implement the ban with cooperation from the police and district government. He said the district government’s representatives would be available at phone number 111-008-888 at the LESCO’s head office on Nicholson Road to address matters pertaining to the ban. He said the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) used to lose Rs 2.5 billion a year due to kite-flying. “Besides, it’s hard to estimate the damage done to electric appliances in homes every day,” he added.

He said LESCO would launch a campaign to educate people about the hazards of the sport. “Seminars, panel discussions and public debates will be part of the campaign,” he added.

About fines and punishments, the LESCO chief said violators would be punished under section 144 of the PPC or the local bodies ordinance. He said the sale of twine, metallic wire and kites would also be banned and shopkeepers would not be allowed to sell these goods for at least three months.

Talking to Daily Times, Mr Lashari said kite-flying was promoted for the Jashn-e-Baharan (spring festival) as government policy. “Now the government has changed its policy in view of increasing number of casualties due to the use of wire and chemical-coated twine in recent months. Being a government servant, I fully support the ban on kite-flying,” he added.

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