Punjab government allows celebrating Basant festival

LAHORE: Punjab government has decided to allow Basant festival celebrations in February, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

“Basant will be celebrated in Lahore in the second week of February,” Information Minister Fayazul Hassan Chohan said while speaking to media persons here.

Chohan said, Basant is an enormous economic activity and a source of promoting tourism, and added that its celebrations should remain within the prescribed rules and regulations keeping in view the public safety.

“Basant committee will present its recommendations within a week.”

In the meanwhile, the minister expressed joy over the recent decision taken by British Airways for resumption of its flight operations in Pakistan which reflected its confidence over the policies as well as leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

This decision by British Airways also reflects that the country is driving towards peace and stability, the minister added.

Later on, Punjab’s Information Minister, Fayyazul Hassan Chohan while expressing regret over PML-N Senator Mushahid Ullah Khan’s statement regarding KPK government said that the senator was unaware that the PTI government had introduced a green revolution in the province while exhibiting its outstanding performance in KPK. Billion Trees Project was as revolutionary project which was greatly appreciated by world community, the Minister concluded.

Basant is one of the most colourful and celebrated festivals in Pakistan, particularly in Punjab. However, after a rise in the number of deaths due to chemicalised twine, the provincial government had banned the kite festival in Punjab a couple of years back.

In 2005, the Supreme Court had also banned the festival over deaths caused by the use of sharp and glass coated strings. Several petitions challenging the ban were dismissed by the court.