Category: Pakistan

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.

(Original content – AI unavailable)

Source: Dawn

ISLAMABAD: Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Tuesday revealed majority of buildings in Islamabad have not obtained fire safety certificates.

In the wake of the Karachi Gul Plaza inferno, the CDA recently decided to get survey of buildings of Islamabad to ensure fire and safety system.

“CDA has completed the survey regarding Fire Safety & Hazard Control in the Federal Capital, Islamabad. A total of 6,500 buildings were surveyed in this regard.

During the survey, it was observed that most buildings had not obtained approval for their fire safety plans, and the completion/fire safety certificates for these buildings had also not been issued. During the survey, 300 government buildings were also inspected, read an official handout issued by CDA.

This information was shared in a meeting held here at CDA headquarters with Chairman CDA Mohammad Ali Randhawa in the chair and attended by members administration and planning, DC Islamabad and other officers concerned.

“Federal Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi had taken notice and directed the CDA to conduct a survey of all buildings in Islamabad regarding Fire Safety and Hazard Control at the earliest. In light of the direction all relevant departments, including the Capital Emergency Services and the Building and Housing Control Wing were directed to complete the survey immediately,” the official statement said.

The meeting that building owners and occupants would be directed to submit their Fire Safety and Hazard Control Certificates to the relevant offices of CDA’s Building & Housing Control Wing within fifteen days. Otherwise, legal action will be initiated against those not complying with the direction under the CDA Ordinance and the Islamabad Capital Territory Building Control Regulations 2020 (Amended 2023).

“This will entail fines and other enforcement measures. In this context, if an accident occurs in a building due to non-submission of the required certificates, the responsibility will lie with the concerned owners and the building management,” read the statement.

It said that building owners and their management are further requested to immediately ensure the safety status of their buildings and submit the necessary documents on time so that public safety standards can be maintained in the Capital.

The meeting decided that all building owners and occupants will have their buildings inspected on an annual basis and submit certificates regarding fire safety measures in accordance with the Pakistan Engineering Council codes to the CDA. Furthermore, regular fire safety drills will also be arranged in all buildings.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2026

(Original content – AI unavailable)

Source: Dawn