Authorities yesterday lifted a ban on kite-flying in a Pakistani province after the sport was forbidden last year following a series of deaths caused by reinforced kite strings, an official said.
The ban was lifted about a month ahead of Basant, an annual festival that heralds spring and is marked by flying colorful kites in the province of Punjab.
This year's festival will be celebrated on Feb. 25, said Salman Ghani, chairman of Punjab's planning and development department.
During Basant last year, seven people were fatally slashed by glass-coated or metal-reinforced kite strings, prompting authorities to ban kite-flying. They arrested hundreds who defied the new regulation.
Among last year's fatalities was a 4-year-old boy whose throat was slit by a string coated with glass as he rode on a motorcycle with his father.
Ghani said that glass-coated or metal strings will be banned, and that authorities will issue licenses for selling kites and strings during this year's festival.
The ban will be re-imposed after the festival's final day celebrations, he said.
Kites larger than a 1m2 will not be allowed to prevent the use of heavy strings, Ghani said.
Offenders will face up to four years in jail, or a fine of 100,000 rupees (US$1,800), he said.
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