Khawaja Nadeem Saeed Wayeen, founder of the kite-flying festival, on Sunday urged the Punjab government to review its decision to ban kite-making and allow people to continue running their businesses.
He said the reversal on the ban would provide a healthy boost to Pakistan’s exports.
“Kite-making had provided employment to thousands of women who worked from their homes. The women and their families are now starving after the ban on the kite-flying festival,” he added.
He said he did not deny the fact that the festival had caused loss of life, but he said a complete ban was no solution. He said special zones should be assigned around the city for kite-flying festivities.
Saeed said around 150,000 people in Lahore, 100,000 in Gujranwala and 80,000 in Kasur affiliated with the kite-flying industry had lost employment and were facing hunger.
He urged Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to form a committee including representatives of the public and the private sector for the proposed kite city or kite flying zone. He said the move would promote tourism and also attract foreign investment in the province.