LAHORE – Punjab Information and Culture Minister Azma Bokhari on Tuesday said that full-scale preparations for Basant are underway in Lahore, and free public transport will be provided across the city to facilitate citizens during the festival.
Azma Bokhari said that Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif will personally brief the public on safety measures and administrative arrangements for the event. She added that special transport arrangements have been made to ensure easy mobility for residents in all parts of the city.
She made these remarks while talking to the reporters outside the Punjab Assembly.
The minister said the chief minister will also provide detailed information about the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for celebrating Basant to ensure the festival is observed in a safe environment.
Bokhari said that following a survey in the Walled City, dilapidated and hazardous buildings have been sealed, while details of the procedure for other structures will also be shared with the public by the chief minister.
Addressing complaints about the high prices of kites and string, she said that production of kite-flying materials has been permitted in four additional districts to reduce the gap between supply and demand. She said reports had emerged of kites being sold for as much as Rs350 in some areas, prompting the government to take steps to stabilize prices. She expressed confidence that the materials would soon become more affordable, allowing people to celebrate Basant without financial strain.
The minister urged citizens to demonstrate responsibility while celebrating the festival, stressing that they should not put their own lives or those of others at risk. She said that if Basant is successfully observed in line with SOPs, the festival would be extended across Punjab next year.
Azma Bokhari also said that Basant is attracting visitors from across the country to Lahore and has generated employment for eight to 10 industries.
She added that kite sales worth Rs3.4 billion have been recorded over the past two days, highlighting the festival’s economic significance.
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