PESHAWAR: In the wake of the Bansant celebration in Lahore and other parts of Punjab, demand for cotton kite strings increased in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and most dealers of Punjab started supplying from Peshawar Yakatoot Bazar, where a huge market for kites and string is available.
The severe shortage and price hike of kites and strings in Punjab have forced some dealers to go to Peshawar, where supply and prices are stable compared to Punjab. Some markets in Haripur and Abbottabad are also active in supply for Punjab, where the best prices are available to earn a profit. One of the string dealers, Liaqat Khan, told Pakhtun Digital that he has contacted Peshawar Yakatoot dealers and is bringing kite strings from Peshawar to earn some profit as the supply falls short in Punjab.
At present, the Punjab government has given conditional permission to celebrate Basant in Lahore on 6, 7, and 8 February 2026 after 18 years. This decision has changed the course of the entire market. The demand for kites in Lahore has increased 25 times. The traders of Punjab have purchased all the finished goods (kites and cotton strings) from the markets of Peshawar, Haripur, and Abbottabad and shifted them to Lahore.
Not only KP, but also from Karachi, a large consignment of kites is being transported to Lahore through trains and buses to meet the demand. This gap between supply and demand has pushed prices out of reach of the common man. The string, which was earlier available for a few thousand, is now being sold for a 2000-meter “pana” for 13,000 to 15,000 rupees. In Karachi, the same price has increased from 25,000 to 50,000 rupees.
The price of a normal-sized kite (26 by 36 inches) is between 400 and 600 rupees, while the big “gadda” has almost disappeared from the market. Although Basant is allowed in Lahore, the situation is different in KP and other cities of Punjab. The government has made it clear that those selling metallic or chemical strings will not get bail and can face 3 to 5 years in prison.
The Punjab government has also given emergency permission for manufacturing in Faisalabad, Kasur, Sheikhupura, and Multan to control prices so that the demand in Lahore is met and the burden on other cities (like Peshawar) is reduced.
Read also: Punjab government bans Kites with images of Imran Khan
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