The Pakistan government has started a crackdown on kite flying across the country after deaths in Sargodha and Faisalabad from stray chemical kite strings on March 23.
Provincial governments of Punjab and Sindh have issued strict orders against those selling and buying chemical kite strings.
Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz on March 24 held a meeting to address the law and order and crime situation in the province where she ordered a crackdown on making, selling, and buying harmful kite strings.
The police chief updated the meeting on actions taken to stop kite flying and control crime.
The chief minister told the police chief to provide daily reports on actions against those breaking kite flying laws and on crime situations. She also wanted a strong plan to stop drug selling online and ordered cases against major drug dealers with solid evidence.
“Mere registering a case is inadequate; the accused must also be punished,” she said.
Following her orders, the police chief told regional and district officers to step up actions against violators.
3000 arrested in Punjab for violating ban
During a meeting chaired by Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa, to discuss the ban on kite flying, Yom-e-Ali (RA), and Easter, it was revealed that 2,000 people have been arrested in Lahore alone, and over 3,000 arrests have been made across the entire Lahore Division for violating the kite flying ban.
In Lahore, the police and administration have fitted over 18,000 protective kite wires on motorcycles. The commissioner emphasized that the district administration will continue to fully enforce the ban on kite flying and related businesses.
He also instructed to raise awareness against kite flying by sending messages to imams of mosques, churches, and imambargahs.
Karachi police seize thousand chemical strings
Karachi police seized 1,000 kites and rolls of chemical string in the Factory Area.
Following an increase in incidents related to kite-flying activities and injuries caused by kite strings, authorities in Karachi have announced a crackdown on kite sellers and flyers across the city.
Sharp kite strings slit throats
The authorities have sprung into action after recent tragic incidents. The most horrific one happened in Faisalabad where Asif Ashfque, 22, died from severe blood loss after a kite string slit his throat while he was riding a motorcycle on March 22. CCTV footage of the incident showed him falling off his motorcycle after being injured.
After learning about the incident, CM Maryam instructed the police and city administration to take strict action against those producing glass-coated strings.
Expressing deep sorrow over the tragic death, the chief minister said, “Another precious life was lost by the kite string in Faisalabad.”
“I give a 48-hour time to the district administration and police to arrest the people involved [in the sad incident],” she added.
Following the incident, the Faisalabad central police officer suspended the station house officer (SHO) of the Factory Area police station.
Last month, two people, including a child, were killed and two other children were electrocuted due to kite flying in Daska, Punjab.