Lahore — As the three-day Basant festival draws near, a severe shortage of kites and strings continues to grip Lahore’s markets, forcing buyers to pay sharply inflated prices or return empty-handed, with no effective mechanism yet in place to ensure steady supply.
Shoppers and sellers alike report that big guddas (large kites), patangs, and quality strings have virtually vanished from shelves, leaving only small varieties available at premium rates. The sudden surge in demand — the first Basant in the city after 18 years — has caught suppliers off guard, with wholesale stocks depleted and manufacturers struggling to keep pace.
Lahore is buzzing with color and excitement as Basant makes a grand return after 25 years, with over Rs540 million worth of kites and string sold in just three days.
Officials say more than 500,000 kites were purchased in a single day as markets, especially Mochi Gate, remained… pic.twitter.com/jFtT9l6ptR
— Startup Pakistan (@PakStartup) February 4, 2026
Key Highlights
- Severe shortage of big guddas, patangs, and strings across Lahore.
- Only small kites widely available at inflated prices.
- Strings completely disappeared from most shops.
- Demand 25 times higher than last Basant 18 years ago.
- Rs150 million in kites and strings sold on February 1 alone.
- Inspections ramped up to prevent hoarding.
- ADC General Zukhruf Fida: No prior demand data; next year’s assessment will improve supply.
Customers vent frustration over empty visits to registered shops in areas like Johar Town and other markets. “I checked everywhere — no big guddas, no string,” one buyer told Dawn, urging authorities to step in so families with limited means can enjoy the festival.
Sellers echo the complaint: “We have only small tawa guddas left; big ones and strings sold out fast,” said one trader, adding that wholesalers and manufacturers report the same — entire stocks cleared early, with strings fetching Rs13,000 per 2,000-meter pinna where available.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Zukhruf Fida rejected claims of administrative failure, explaining this is the first Basant revival in nearly two decades. “No one anticipated demand would explode 25 times higher,” he said, noting sales hit Rs150 million on February 1 alone. He assured inspections are underway to curb any hoarding, while promising better demand forecasting if the festival returns next year.
This supply crunch highlights the challenges of reviving a beloved cultural tradition after a long gap — testing market readiness while testing the resolve of Lahorites eager to reclaim Basant’s joy for families and communities across the city.
You May Like To Read: SHC Directs Action Against KDA DG for Ignoring Court Orders on Pensions
