Lahore, Following orders from Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the Punjab Police have escalated their enforcement of the Anti-Kite Flying Act, registering hundreds of cases across the province, including Lahore, against the perilous pastime of kite flying. This initiative underscores the government’s commitment to curbing the dangerous activity that has resulted in numerous accidents and fatalities.

According to Punjab Police, the intensified campaign has led to the arrest of 512 individuals involved in kite flying in the last 24 hours alone, with 535 cases registered and thousands of kites and strings confiscated. Since the beginning of the crackdown a month ago, a total of 2991 people have been apprehended, resulting in 2855 cases and the seizure of over 105,000 kites and numerous kite-flying accessories.

Inspector General of Punjab Police, Dr. Usman Anwar, has mandated a zero-tolerance policy towards kite flying, directing all police chiefs in Lahore, regional police officers, and district police officers to take decisive action against those manufacturing, selling, or using metal strings and kites. The directive also extends to the crackdown on online sales of kites and metallic strings.

IGP Anwar has appealed to the public to assist the police in their efforts to eliminate kite flying and emphasized the need for public awareness campaigns, in collaboration with civil society, to educate on the lethal risks associated with this activity.

This aggressive stance against kite flying aligns with the Punjab government’s broader public safety initiatives, aiming to protect citizens from the unintended yet severe consequences of what many consider a harmless hobby.