Basant: handle with care

LAHORE – Basant has always been a prominent festival of the provincial capital of Punjab. Since the past few years Basant has not been celebrated up to the usual mark as a lot of people had lost their lives and the government had put a stop to this festival which had proved fatal to many.
This year when Basant is right round the corner, the public seems to be waiting impatiently for the government to give its decision on the issue of Basant, whether it should be celebrated or not. The public holds mix but workable views on the issue of Basant. Hussain Zafar a young telemarketer said, “Kite flying should be allowed, at least for a night and a day, and those who use illegal elements in manufacturing flying equipments should be punished.”
Hamdan Ali Sheikh, a student of Beaconhouse National University said, “For fun? Yes it should be allowed. Basant is one in a few occasions where I find my brothers and sisters enjoying other then crying for inflation and other economic crises that we face.” Rushda Anjum, a media student at Kinnard College, said, “No way, this fun can cause harm to others. Plus why can’t we give that money to poor and needy ones instead of wasting it on kites, string and parties. We spend thousands and millions on such events and then we claim to be a poor country.”
He said that people who depend on this festival are jobless and should be restored.
Hasan Masood, a young engineer from GIK said, “Pakistanis need something to celebrate. There is despondency everywhere and pent up frustration, however, I think Basant as a national festival should not be allowed to take place.” He said that other meaningful and less harmful recreational ways should be sought to have fun. “Kite flying, on the scale that it is carried out on Basant, is a very destructive sport,” he said. Hassan said that unemployment related to Basant ban was not a major issue.
Abdullah Syed, a student in tenth grade, said Basant should be allowed but only under specific terms and conditions where the misuse of chemical strings and wires should not be allowed, and if it is not possible to crack down or to ban the illegal stuff completely Basant should not be allowed. “If law enforcement agencies can take full control over it and can take the public in confidence then Basant should be allowed,” Abudullah added.
Amna Gull, a young entrepreneur, said she thinks it should be celebrated as it was a fun event. “But it should be done with the safety measures as lives are so important and we already are loosing people everyday,” she added. “I think if someone wants to fly a kite then no one can stop them, why do we need a law for it?” questioned Amira Farooq, an artist. Amira said that the only inappropriate thing is life-threatening string. “When I was a kid there was no glass string, everything was fun and festive,” she added.