Senior Punjab Minister Maryam Aurangzeb has said that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had wished for the traditional Basant festival to return to Lahore, describing the initiative as the result of extensive planning and effort over the past year and a half.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Maryam Aurangzeb said that all scheduled Basant-related activities planned by the Punjab government had been canceled following the recent suicide attack in Islamabad. She added that a concert scheduled at Liberty Chowk in Lahore was also called off in light of the security situation.
“The chief minister of Punjab canceled all activities related to Basant yesterday, including the concert at Liberty Chowk,” she said.
Commenting on the Islamabad attack, the senior minister said such cowardly incidents are often aimed at spreading fear and targeting public celebrations and cultural festivals. She suggested that acts of terrorism are designed not only to cause loss of life but also to undermine social cohesion and cultural traditions.
“These cowardly acts are also carried out to target festivals of this nature,” Maryam Aurangzeb said, referring to the broader impact of terrorism on public life and cultural events.
Reiterating Nawaz Sharif’s stance, she said the former prime minister had long wanted Lahore’s Basant festival to be revived, viewing it as an important part of the city’s cultural identity. According to her, significant groundwork had already been completed to make the festival possible.
“Nawaz Sharif wanted the Basant festival to return to Lahore,” she said. “A year and a half of hard work has gone into preparations for the Basant festival.”
The Basant festival, once a hallmark of Lahore’s cultural calendar, has remained suspended for years due to safety concerns, including fatal incidents linked to kite flying and security challenges. Any discussion of its revival has traditionally sparked debate over public safety versus cultural preservation.
Maryam Aurangzeb’s statement indicates that the provincial government had been actively considering the revival of the festival before the recent security developments. However, the cancellation of all related activities underscores the authorities’ cautious approach amid heightened security concerns.
The Islamabad attack, which prompted the cancellations, has led to increased vigilance across the country, particularly around public gatherings and events. Provincial authorities have emphasized that public safety remains the top priority.
While no new timeline was announced for the Basant festival, officials have indicated that decisions regarding cultural events will be reviewed in light of the prevailing security situation.
The remarks highlight the broader dilemma faced by governments in balancing cultural revival with security imperatives in an environment affected by terrorism. For now, officials say, caution will continue to guide decisions on public celebrations and large-scale events.
