ISLAMABAD: The government in Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province has decided to amend the Kite Flying Prohibition Ordinance 2001 to deter people from taking part in the activity, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported on Thursday. 

Kite flying has long been a passion in South Asia and for decades, the Basant— a kite flying celebration— would transform Pakistan’s skies into a glittery kaleidoscope of hundreds of thousands of kites to commemorate the advent of spring. 

But in 2005, the Supreme Court banned the celebration after 19 people died from decapitation by stray strings. Thick strings or razor-sharp wires reinforced with glass and chemicals so they can better attack opponents’ kites and slice their strings, have been known to knock out power lines and, in some cases, tangle around a human neck or limb, causing serious injury or death.

“To prevent kite flying in Punjab, the government has decided to amend the Kite Flying Prohibition Ordinance 2001,” APP said, adding that the Punjab Law Department has sent a draft of the amendments to the Chief Minister’s Office in consultation with the Standing Committee on Law.

Quoting sources, the state media said that the amended ordinance suggests an imprisonment term for kite makers from six months to three years and a fine of up to Rs500,000 ($1795). 

The ordinance in its present form has set an imprisonment term of three years and a fine of Rs100,000 ($359) for those who make kites and fly them. 

“Also in the ordinance, there will be a fine for the children while the parents of the children have also been recommended to be punished,” APP said. 

The ban on kite flying has been lifted several times over the years for the period of Basant, but the sport still caused deaths as kite fliers continued to use wire or modified strings.