LAHORE: The Punjab police department has sent a request to the provincial government for amendments to the rules to enhance punishment and fine on the violators of the Punjab Prohibition of Kite Flying Act.
Inspector General of Police Shoaib Dastgir sent a letter to the additional chief secretary (home) bearing various recommendations.
He said besides action by police, it was mandatory to make the rules strict by enhancing punishments and amount of fines for elimination of kite flying.
“The kite and string manufacturers should be awarded imprisonment from one year to five years with a fine of Rs0.5m to Rs2m or both punishments,” the IGP said in the letter.
For selling kites and strings, there should be imprisonment of one year to five years whereas fine should be from Rs200,000 to Rs500,000 or both punishments together.
Similarly, for violation of flying kite during ban, imprisonment should be raised from three months to one year and fine should be from Rs50,000 to Rs100,000 or both punishments.
It has been suggested in the letter that the FIA cybercrime wing should be directed to take action against the individuals involved in online business of kite through Facebook and websites whereas services of the federal board of revenue and ministry of commerce should be sought for banning import of raw materials required for manufacturing of strings.
It has further been said in the letter that easy bail procedure given in already existing laws of kite flying along with low conviction rate in punishment and fine, absence of legal action for online sale and purchase of kites and strings had caused increase in kite flying and resultant deaths despite action by police.
The IGP also mentioned details of actions undertaken by Lahore police in the first six months of the current year against kite flying.
A copy of letter has also been sent to the Punjab minister for law and parliamentary affairs and the chief secretary.
(Daily Dawn)
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