Reporting snapshot · 24 January 2026. This report reflects ProPakistani's account of the Punjab government's announcement published on 24 January 2026 and does not include later scheduling changes.
What happened
The Government of Punjab officially announced the revival of Basant in Lahore under the banner #PhirAaiBasant, according to a ProPakistani report published on 24 January 2026. The report described the move as a cultural milestone backed by what it called strong governance, comprehensive safety planning and strict regulatory oversight.
The report said the initiative was rooted in the vision of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and had been brought to life through Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
How the celebration will be run
According to the report, the festivities will be strictly limited to Lahore district to allow focused enforcement, and will run for three days under mandatory standard operating procedures.
The rules listed by the report included:
- Kites may be purchased only from government-registered stalls.
- Only cotton string, known as dor, will be permitted, with all other materials banned.
- Motorbikes will be banned across the city for all three days.
- Public transport will be free, with more than 5,000 rickshaws providing supervised free rides.
- Drones and social media platforms will be actively monitored.
Why it matters
Basant had long been restricted in Punjab over safety concerns, and the report said the government framed the revival as a way to balance cultural celebration with public safety. It said authorities described adherence to the SOPs as compulsory rather than optional, and presented the controlled framework as a sign of renewed confidence in regulated cultural activity.
What is still uncertain
The report did not give exact dates for the three-day celebration, nor did it name the enforcement bodies in detail beyond saying civic and law enforcement authorities would collaborate. It also did not specify penalties for breaching the SOPs.
Sources & reporting notes
This article summarises published reporting and is not eyewitness reconstruction. Sources were reviewed on 24 January 2026.
- ProPakistani — Punjab Government Officially Revives Basant in Lahore24 January 2026 · The official announcement, the #PhirAaiBasant banner, the Lahore-only three-day scope and the full list of safety SOPs.
