LAHORE (Kashmir English): People in Lahore will enjoy a long weekend at the Basant Festival, which will be celebrated from February 6, 2026, to February 8 in Lahore.
According to reports, the Punjab government is considering declaring Friday as a holiday while Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday are already declared holidays.
If the government declared holiday on Friday, Lahore will observe four holidays. The purpose is to make the Basant Festival historic and secure. A low number of motorcycles are likely to be on the city roads during the festival.
Basant Festival and Lahore
The Basant Festival is returning to the provincial metropolis after 18 years, following the passage of the Punjab Regulation of Kite Flying Bill, 2025, by the provincial assembly on December 24.
The Punjab government has announced to decorate 23 important roads and locations in the city and allow playing loud music during the festival.
Renowned singers Fareeha Pervez, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Arif Lohar, Hadiqa Kiyani, and Asim Raza will participate in the musical events.
The 23 important locations of Lahore include Main Boulevard Gulberg, Noor Jahan Road, Main Market, Mehmood Kasuri Road will be decorated during Basant Festival and Jail Road, MM Alam Road, Khayaban-e-Firdousi, Khayaban-e-Jinnah, Sahrah-e-Tijarat, and Shadman Market.
Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam, North Lahore, Circular Garden, Azadi Chowk, and Niazi Interchange will also be decorated.
Ravi Toll Plaza, GT Road, M-2, Shahdara Flyover, and Ferozepur Road will also be decorated as this time the Basant Festival will be celebrated in a peaceful, secure, disciplined, and family manner.
Last week Lahore police submitted a report in the Lahore High Court (LHC) detailing the security plan for the upcoming three-day Basant festival.
The report identified areas of concern for the upcoming festival, based on data from the last decade, and sought full implementation of the Punjab Regulation of Kite Flying Bill.
It stated that registration of every kite and spool of string is mandatory through a QR code and there would be zero tolerance for glass, chemical-coated, or metallic wire.
According to the report, Lahore has been divided into red, yellow, and green zones, while officials will continuously monitor kite-flying activities through drones, social media, and control rooms.
It also warned that strict action will be taken against aerial firing, drinking, and illegal activities on rooftops.
The report stated that it would be mandatory for motorcycle riders to wear a helmet and prohibited their entry into red zones without a safety antenna installed.
