LAHORE, PAKISTAN: The Punjab government’s consideration of reviving the iconic Basant festival has come under intense scrutiny after a young man tragically lost his life due to a stray kite string in Lahore. The incident occurred near Nawankot, where Nauman Yousuf, a 28-year-old pharmaceutical sales representative, was fatally injured when a sharp, metal-coated string slit his jugular vein.
According to police and medical reports, Nauman was on his way home when the deadly string got entangled around his neck, causing profuse bleeding. Despite being rushed to the hospital, he succumbed to his injuries within minutes. The tragedy has reignited public outrage over the dangerous use of metallic and glass-coated strings, which continue to claim lives despite a longstanding provincial ban.
The timing of the incident has further intensified the debate, as it comes days after the Punjab government began discussing the controlled revival of Basant in parts of the Walled City, including Mochi Gate and Bhati Gate. Officials had been considering allowing kite flying under “strict supervision,” but the latest fatality has cast serious doubts on the government’s readiness to ensure safety compliance.
Public and political voices have condemned the lack of enforcement, accusing authorities of neglecting the persistent dangers associated with the festival. Civil rights groups have urged the government to focus on public awareness and strict regulation before approving any form of Basant celebrations.
Basant, once celebrated as a vibrant symbol of Lahore’s culture, has remained banned since 2007 due to numerous fatalities caused by hazardous kite strings. However, repeated attempts at reviving it have met with resistance over safety concerns — and this latest tragedy is a grim reminder of why the ban was enforced in the first place.
While nostalgia for Basant remains strong among Lahore’s residents, the loss of another young life underscores a painful truth: cultural revival cannot come at the cost of human safety.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.