Round-the-clock control rooms, SDOs deployed in three shifts as utility replaces 46 high-risk poles in markets
Residents converge in a street in the old city area to buy kites and strings for Basant. Sunday was the first day of permitted sale of the items for the festival scheduled from February 6 to 8. Photo: NNI
LAHORE:
The Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) has submitted a 27-point plan to the Lahore High Court (LHC) to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply and public safety during Basant festivities.
According to the report, a Central Control and Command Centre will be established at LESCO headquarters to address electricity-related complaints. In addition, a control room will be set up at the Commissioner’s Office to maintain close coordination with the provincial government.
The control rooms will remain operational round the clock, with Sub-Divisional Officers deployed in three shifts for 24-hour monitoring.
To ensure an uninterrupted power supply in the Lahore Walled City, a dedicated control system will be established under the Data Darbar Division. LESCO has also placed all operational and field staff on high alert during the Basant period.
Read: Punjab govt to provide free public transport during Basant festival
For public safety, the report states that Executive Engineers (XENs) will remain present 24/7 at 132 kV grid stations, while the complaint number 111 will remain fully operational across Lahore subdivisions. For immediate coordination, the contact numbers of all 136 XENs and SDOs have been shared with the concerned Assistant Commissioners.
LESCO emphasised that infrastructure stability and public safety will be treated as top priorities. The report clearly states that no staff member will remove kite strings from power lines without first switching off the current, to prevent accidents.
The utility further informed the court that special surveys were conducted in high-risk areas, including Shah Alam Market, Liberty Market, Ichhra Bazaar, and Moon Market, where damaged wiring was identified. As part of preventive measures, 46 high-risk electricity poles were replaced in these areas.
The Punjab government has also announced it would provide free public transport facilities during Basant, as part of a special initiative with the Punjab Mass Transit Authority.
The provincial government granted special permission for Basant to be celebrated from February 6 to 8, limiting the festival strictly to Lahore under an extensive web of legal, administrative and safety controls aimed at preventing the loss of life that previously led to its ban.
This year’s revival of the festival follows the promulgation of the Punjab Kite Flying Ordinance 2025, which formally reopened the door for Basant while placing unprecedented restrictions on every aspect of the festival, from kite dimensions and string material to sound systems and rooftop access.
Under official notifications issued by the Lahore district administration on the instructions of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, kite flying will be permitted only within Lahore’s district limits and only during the three designated days, with enforcement elsewhere in Punjab remaining absolute.
Read More: Basant comes back, but not as before
Deputy Commissioner Syed Musa Raza also confirmed that comprehensive standard operating procedures will apply across the city, covering rooftops, buildings, commercial venues and public spaces, while district officers and police are empowered to inspect and shut down unsafe locations.
Central to the new framework is a mandatory digital registration system for kite manufacturers and sellers, accessible through the e-Biz application and the basant.punjab.gov.pk portal, with production allowed from December 30 and retail sales restricted to February 1 through 8.
The government has also prohibited the playing of 132 Punjabi songs deemed objectionable or inappropriate, barring their use at rooftops, public gatherings and commercial venues, with legal action promised against violators to maintain decency and law and order.
