A boy flies a kite from the roof of his house in Rawalpindi, maneuvering it against the clear blue sky as the afternoon sun casts long shadows. Photo: ONLINE
LAHORE:
What began as a colorful return of the Basant celebrations in Lahore quickly turned into a moment of grief and solidarity on Friday night when the Punjab government canceled all related events following a deadly blast in Islamabad.
For most of the day, the provincial capital had slipped back into a familiar spring rhythm.
Rooftops filled with families, music blared from loudspeakers, and kites once again spread across the skyline after years of bans and uncertainty surrounding the festival. However, the organized celebrations remained largely concentrated in specific pockets.
Much of the activity centered around the walled city, where authorities had made special arrangements and increased surveillance, while Gulberg – particularly the Liberty area – was set to host the government’s flagship Basant event.
A mega show at Liberty Chowk was planned as the highlight of the day; However, in light of the Islamabad tragedy, the government suspended these celebrations.
Beyond these areas, the atmosphere was noticeably subdued. For many residents, Basant no longer felt like the celebration at street level that it once was in the neighborhood.
With the price of kites and string rising sharply in recent years, and security-compliant, QR-coded material costing even more, the festival appeared increasingly out of reach for lower-income families.
In several parts of the city, it seemed less like a mass party and more like a pastime for the wealthy, with organized gatherings and better-filled rooftops largely visible in exclusive locales.
Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb congratulated the citizens and said that all arrangements had been completed and foolproof security measures were in place under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
She urged people to celebrate responsibly and stressed that the continuation of Basant would depend on public behavior over the next few days.
Authorities repeatedly recommended adherence to safety protocols. Motorcyclists were warned not to ride without safety bars, while citizens were asked to use only QR-coded lanyards and kites to minimize accidents.
Police and district administration teams remained deployed across key areas to enforce standard operating procedures.
However, the festive atmosphere did not last. In the evening, reports of a suicide blast near an imambargah in Islamabad completely changed the mood.
Within hours, the Punjab government canceled all Basant-related activities scheduled for the following day, including the much-awaited Liberty Chowk show in Gulberg.
In a message on X, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said the decision was taken to express solidarity with the victims and their families during what she called a national tragedy.
She directed the authorities to provide full assistance to Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Twenty-five fully equipped ambulances were dispatched, hospitals were put on high alert and surgical teams, specialists and blood banks were instructed to remain on standby.
“We stand with the families of the martyrs in this difficult hour,” she said, adding that those responsible would be brought to justice.
Azma Bukhari later confirmed the cancellation of all events, saying the government shared the grief of the bereaved families and would continue to confront terrorism with determination.
