LAHORE: City police on Saturday announced to start a crackdown against kite-flyers in the provincial metropolis. Police also continued an awareness campaign in educational institutions against kite-flying. However, police and city district administration have failed to completely check kite-flying in the city, especially over weekends. Kites were seen flying in Rawalpindi city, Gujranwala, Faisalabad and other cities of the province despite a ban imposed on the activity during last week of the current year. Aerial firing was also observed in various areas of Rawalpindi and Gujranwala. People also complained against police for failing to stop kite-flying. Akbar, Riaz, Sabir and others said and kites were flown in several areas, especially on Sunday. The citizens demanded strict implementation of ban on flying kites to prevent loss of precious human lives. People urged police to ensure a complete ban on the sale of kites and strings. Police continued its operations against kite-flyers and sellers in the city and thousands of kites and strings were taken into custody during operations. Addressing a press conference, City Division SP Ali Raza said that they had arrested several persons and seized a huge quantity of kites, string rolls and other materials from their possession. The kite-flying game became more dangerous with the introduction of chemical string and other prohibited material used to coat the thread. Such strings caused the deaths of dozens of innocent children, women and men, who were travelling on motorcycles. Later, the government banned kite-flying following Supreme Court of Pakistan’s orders. SP Ali Raza said that on the strict orders of the Punjab government, CCPO Amin Wains and DIG Operations Dr Haider Ashraf, raids were conducted to arrest kite-sellers and the ban violators. The raids will continue to ensure implementation on the law of ban on kite flying, he said. The authorities also banned the traditional Basant festival. According to official figures, at least 18 people were killed and 24 others injured in incidents related to kite flying during 2006-09. Electricity installations faced a loss of Rs 5 billion during the same period. DIG Operations Dr Haider Ashraf has ordered police to take strict action against kite-manufacturing factories present in the city. The DIG has directed all divisional SPs to start a crackdown against kite and sting sellers. He said that police would not allow anyone to play with the lives of innocent citizens especially children. He said that city police had arrested several persons and seized kites and bundles of chemical strings from their possession during special campaign against kite flying during some last weeks on a daily basis. The raids were part of the ongoing police campaign against kite-flyers. He said that violation of kite-flying ban had already shed blood of many innocent lives. He asked parents to keep an eye on their children. The DIG warned SHOs that strict action would be taken against them if the ban on kite-flying was flouted in their areas. He said that strict action should be taken against anyone who was involved in kite-flying. Published in Daily Times, February 11th 2018.