ISLAMABAD: The British High Commission said on Tuesday it was in contact with local authorities regarding the death of a British boy who was reportedly ‘murdered’ while on holiday in Pakistan with his mother, adding that the mission was providing consular services to the family.
Adil Khan, 14, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, was reportedly shot dead while traveling with his mother to visit relatives in Pakistan.
“We are in contact with the local authorities in Pakistan following the death of a British child and are providing consular support to his family,” a media representative at the British High Commission told Arab News via email.
British media reported over the weekend that though the exact nature of Khan’s death had not yet been confirmed, police were said to have made two arrests.
“The 14-year-old, from the predominantly Asian Manningham area of Bradford, was previously at the center of a missing persons inquiry in Pakistan in 2019 but was found safe and well,” the Daily Mail reported.
Pakistan’s Lahore marks Basant festival after government lifts decades-old ban on kite flying
Pakistan’s Punjab province outlawed Basant in 2000s after authorities linked metal-coated kite strings and celebratory gunfire to multiple deaths and injuries
The three-day festivities began after midnight on Thursday as residents gathered on brightly lit rooftops to fly colorful kites to welcome the cultural festival
Updated 5 sec ago
Kashif Imran
ISLAMABAD: The eastern Pakistani city of Lahore on Friday welcomed the return of Basant spring festival after the government this year lifted a more than two-decade-old ban on kite flying for a period three days, with Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz urging masses to follow precautions.
Provincial officials, including Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari, were seen flying kites in videos widely shared online. Meanwhile, the prices of air tickets from various Pakistani cities to Lahore have skyrocketed during the three days of the festival as more and more people try to join the celebrations after over a 20-year-hiatus.
Basant, once a vibrant tradition signaling the arrival of spring with colorful kites and rooftop festivities, was outlawed in Pakistan’s Punjab province in the 2000s after authorities linked metal-coated kite strings and celebratory gunfire to multiple deaths and injuries.
The government of CM Nawaz this year allowed Basant festivities in the provincial capital of Lahore, Pakistan’s cultural heart, on Feb. 6-8, but issued an extensive safety plan regarding kite materials and motorcyclists and pedestrians to avoid any untoward incident.
Commuters ride past a large model of a kite celebrating the Basant festival in Lahore on February 3, 2026. (AFP)
The three-day festivities began after midnight on Thursday as residents of Lahore gathered on their brightly lit rooftops along with family, friends and guests visiting from other cities and abroad to fly colorful kites to welcome the return of Basant.
“Kites return to the skies of Lahore as Basant comes alive again after 25 years,” CM Nawaz said on X. “A celebration of culture, color, and community! Let’s enjoy the festivities together responsibly, follow all safety SOPs (standard operating procedures), and make this Basant safe for everyone.”
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) this week forecast favorable weather conditions for kite flying in Lahore on Feb. 6-8, marked by light westerly winds blowing at speeds of 10–15 kilometers an hour.
Authorities have distributed 1 million safety rods among motorcyclists through designated safety points across Lahore, with spending on the initiative crossing Rs110 million ($392,000), according to local media reports. To enforce regulations and manage traffic flow, around 100 road safety camps have been set up in the city, staffed by teams from the district administration, traffic police and rescue services.
In addition, the Punjab government has launched a free shuttle service to reduce traffic congestion and promote safer travel via 695 buses deployed across Lahore.
