Major amendments to Prohibition of Kite Flying Act, 2007 approved

LAHORE: The Punjab Cabinet’s Standing Committee on Legislation (Standing Committee on Legislative Business) has approved important amendments to the Prohibition of Kite Flying Act, 2007.

According to the documents obtained by the ‘Jang;, sub-section (d) was added to section 4(1) of the Act, which provides that transportation any metal wire, nylon cord or thread used in kite flying kites from one place to another has been restricted. Earlier the law did not prohibit the transportation of kites and metal strings.

The Standing Committee on Legislative Business has approved the amendment of sub-section 3 of Section 4 of the said Act, whereby the punishment for kite flying has been increased from 3 years to a maximum of 5 years, making kite flying a non-bailable offence. Along with this, the kite flyer will be fined Rs20 lakh or both. Earlier in the Prohibition of Kite Flying Act 2007, there was, a maximum penalty of 3 years imprisonment and a fine of Rs1 lakh. Similarly, the kite maker and the person who transports it will be imprisoned for a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 7 years with Rs50 lakh fine or both.

The Standing Committee on Legislative Business has made an important addition to sub-section 3 of section 4, according to which a child who is found guilty of flying kites will be given a warning for the first time, while his parents will be fined Rs50,000 for the second time. A fine of Rs100,000 will be imposed on the parents for being caught flying kites for the third time and for the fourth time, the child will be punished and jailed under the Juvenile Justice System Act 2018.

If a child found guilty of violating the Prohibition of Kite Flying Act 2007 fails to pay the fine, it shall be collected from his parent or guardian or the fine shall be recovered as arrears of land revenue.

When contacted by ‘Jang’ in this regard, Punjab Home Secretary Noorul Amin Mengal said that amendments were necessary to Kite Flying Prohibition Act 2007. Noorul Amin Mengal said that it was a challenge to implement this law without the proposed stiffer penalties in these amendments. The Home Secretary said that stricter penalties and heavy fines would go a long way in banning kite flying.