Islamabad Police arrested 54 individuals and seized over 21,000 kites and chemical strings in January as part of a crackdown against hazardous kite-flying material, state-run APP reported on Sunday.

Kite-flying is often associated with severe and sometimes fatal accidents. Kite-flying festival — Basant — was banned in 2007 in Punjab because of an increasing number of deaths and serious injuries caused by sharp strings, particularly to motorcyclists and pillion riders, as well as by celebratory gunfire.

Quoting Islamabad police spokesperson, APP reported that police teams carried out raids across the capital territory during which they arrested 54 people in relation to kite-flying and trading, alongside recovering over 11,000 kites and more than 10,000 chemical strings.

“Charkis and other related material were also recovered from the suspects,” APP reported, adding that police have registered cases against the suspects.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Qazi Ali Raza told APP, “Kite-flying is not a harmless pastime but a deadly activity that has claimed innocent lives and caused serious injuries, particularly to motorcyclists, pedestrians and children.”

He noted that the chemical strings used in kites “pose a grave threat to human life and can result in permanent disability or death”.

SSP Raza urged parents to “educate their children about the dangers and legal consequences of kite-flying and play their role as responsible citizens,” the report quoted him as saying.

He further detailed that awareness efforts regarding the matter were underway as well.

He stressed that the Islamabad police have a “zero tolerance policy against kite flying, kite stelling and the use of chemical string”.

The officer asserted that strict legal action would continue against those engaging in the practice.

According to the report, citizens have been urged to report people violating the policy through the emergency helpline Pucar-15 or the nearest people station.

The development comes as a three-day Basant festival is set to kick off in Lahore from February 6, following the Punjab government’s decision to lift a ban on the historic event after 18 years, with strict regulations.

On Saturday, Rawalpindi police said they had seized a mini-truck carrying 20,000 kites and 100 rolls of strings, as well as arrested the supplier.

The kites were supposed to be delivered to the garrison city, where the government has imposed a ban on the sale and flying of kites.