LAHORE – Demand for rooftops in Lahore is picking up ahead of Basant 2027, with residents in parts of the city reportedly looking for suitable spaces to celebrate the festival after the Punjab government extended next year’s festivities to 10 days.
The increased interest has been particularly noticeable in the Walled City and other areas where rooftops traditionally provide a vantage point for kite flying. Reports indicate that some residents have already started approaching rooftop owners and visiting potential locations with their families.
The development comes shortly after Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz approved a revised Basant schedule running from January 29 to February 7, 2027, with celebrations suspended on February 5 for Kashmir Day.
Basant 2027 Lahore Dates Announced
The Punjab government had previously announced March 12 to 14, 2027, as the dates for Basant in Lahore. The schedule was subsequently revised, with the festival now planned for 10 days from January 29 to February 7.
February 5 will be observed as a break for Kashmir Day, meaning Basant-related celebrations will not take place that day.
The chief minister has directed relevant departments to begin preparations well in advance and improve arrangements for public safety and convenience compared with the previous festival. She has also urged citizens to celebrate responsibly and follow the regulations governing kite flying.
Rooftop Bookings Gain Attention
The announcement has reportedly prompted residents to begin searching for rooftops ahead of the festival.
Some rooftop owners in Lahore are preparing their properties for the expected demand, including carrying out repairs and improving facilities for visitors. The trend reflects the importance of rooftops to Lahore’s traditional Basant celebrations, particularly in historic parts of the city.
Rooftop demand was also visible during Lahore’s Basant revival in February 2026. At that time, historic rooftops in central Lahore were reportedly booked for amounts ranging from around Rs2.1 million to Rs5.5 million, with food and other arrangements also being offered to visitors.
However, current reports of advance bookings involving hundreds of thousands of rupees should be treated as reported market activity rather than an official citywide pricing benchmark.
Safety Rules Will Shape Basant 2027
The growing interest in rooftops comes alongside a much stricter regulatory framework for Basant 2027 Lahore.
The Punjab government has said kite flying will only be allowed from structurally safe rooftops. Earlier regulations required rooftop boundary walls to be at least 3.5 feet high, while overcrowding and unsafe access were prohibited. Parents and guardians were also directed to supervise children during kite flying.
Authorities have also planned inspections of older buildings and rooftops. Building owners have been made responsible for completing necessary repairs and safety measures at locations being used for kite flying.
The regulations are significant because Lahore’s Walled City contains a large number of old and structurally vulnerable buildings. Ahead of the 2026 Basant festival, the Walled City of Lahore Authority identified hundreds of dangerous buildings, highlighting the risks associated with using unsuitable rooftops for celebrations.
Lahore Prepares For An Extended Festival
The 2027 festival will be considerably longer than the three-day Basant celebration held in Lahore earlier this year.
Basant returned to Lahore in February 2026 after a prolonged ban, with the festival held from February 6 to 8 under a regulated framework. The earlier ban had followed deaths and serious injuries linked to hazardous kite strings and other incidents associated with kite flying.
For 2027, authorities have started preparations earlier, including steps to regulate kite and string manufacturing. The Lahore district administration began registering kite manufacturers in September as part of efforts to establish a controlled supply chain ahead of the festival.
The government has also prohibited dangerous materials and unauthorized kite-flying practices under the safety framework. Lahore’s district administration has said chemical, metallic and sharp manjha strings, aerial firing and fireworks are prohibited.
Rooftop Owners Face New Responsibilities
For residents hoping to book a rooftop for Basant, availability alone may not be enough.
Authorities have placed responsibility on building owners to ensure that rooftops used for kite flying meet safety requirements. This includes structural soundness, adequate boundary protection and compliance with capacity restrictions.
That means the expected increase in rooftop demand is likely to be accompanied by greater scrutiny from the administration.
As preparations continue, residents looking to celebrate Basant from rooftops will need to consider not only the location and price but also whether the property has been cleared for use under the applicable regulations.
What To Expect From Basant 2027
The combination of a longer festival period and growing public interest could make Basant 2027 Lahore a significantly larger event than this year’s revival.
The Punjab government has described the extended celebration as a way to promote the province’s cultural heritage and Lahore’s historic traditions. At the same time, authorities have stressed that the festival must be conducted under strict safety rules.
For Lahore residents, the early rooftop activity suggests that preparations are already moving beyond government offices and into neighborhoods across the city.
With January still several months away, the demand for suitable rooftops could continue to grow as the festival approaches.
Key Points:
- Basant 2027 Lahore will take place from January 29 to February 7.
- February 5 will be a break in celebrations for Kashmir Day.
- Residents have reportedly started searching for rooftops ahead of the festival.
- Rooftop demand was also high during Lahore’s 2026 Basant revival.
- Authorities require rooftops used for kite flying to meet safety and structural requirements.
- Dangerous kite strings, aerial firing and other prohibited practices remain subject to restrictions.
- The Lahore administration has started preparations and registration processes well ahead of the 2027 festival.
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