Recent incidents of injuries caused by sharp glass-coated kite strings in various parts of Pakistan have cast doubt on the revival of Basant, a traditional spring festival.
Last week, a 22-year-old boy in Faisalabad suffered a severe neck injury while riding a bike due to one of these kite strings, sparking outrage on social media.
Surveillance footage showing the injured youth lying in a pool of blood prompted nationwide anger, leading the police to crack down on kite-fliers and sellers in the province.
In March and February, similar incidents claimed the lives of a minor boy and an elderly man in Lahore and Faisalabad, respectively. Over a dozen others, including children, have been critically injured in the past month alone.
These tragedies are not new in Pakistan, as similar incidents over the years have resulted in hundreds of deaths and injuries.
Syed Mubasher Hussain, a spokesman for Punjab Police, stated that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has ordered a crackdown on those involved in the kite trade.
In the past month, around 3,000 individuals have been arrested, and over 100,000 kites have been confiscated across the province.
Basant, a festival celebrated in both Indian and Pakistani Punjab to welcome spring, traditionally revolves around kite flying.
Former military ruler Gen. Pervez Musharraf played a significant role in promoting Basant, elevating it to an international event.
