Authorities seized over 90,000 kites and 5,000 dangerous strings and warned of strict action against violators
During the hearing, Advocate Azhar Siddique, appearing on behalf of the petitioner, argued that the Kite Flying Act 2025 was against the fundamental principles enshrined in the Constitution. PHOTO: REUTERS
Lahore Police has revealed that a total of 5,915 cases were registered against kite flying between 2024 and 2026.
In a detailed report to the Lahore High Court on Wednesday, the police said strict action was taken against those involved in kite flying during the last three years. The data also included ongoing cases shared by the Lahore police chief in connection with Basant-related activities.
In 2024, 3,534 cases were registered, the highest in the three years. By 2025, 1,918 cases were recorded, including one death associated with kite flying. So far in 2026, 463 cases have been filed with no reported deaths.
During the three years, the authorities arrested 5,270 people involved in kite flying. Injuries related to kite incidents included 10 in 2024, two in 2025 and none in 2026. Police also seized more than 90,000 kites and over 5,000 chemical and metallic strings deemed dangerous.
The report stressed the need for strict enforcement of hang-gliding laws and warned that any illegal activity would be met with “immediate and effective action”.
Read: Cases filed against kite flying
Meanwhile, a petition was filed in the Lahore High Court over a fatal kite string incident in Lahore Cantt where a citizen’s throat was cut by a kite string on Friday.
The plea, which was filed by the head of the Judicial Activism Panel Azhar Siddique, named the Punjab government, the Lahore police chief and other officials as respondents and described the Basant festival as a “bloody festival” that threatened public safety.
The petition urged the court to ban chemical-coated kite strings, take strict action against their manufacturers and sellers and hold negligent police officers accountable.
It also called for a compensation policy for those injured or killed due to dangerous kite strings, citing previous incidents including the death of 21-year-old Yousaf Munir in October last year, who was killed by a metal-coated string in Nawan Kot.
