The three-day Basant festival not only provided entertainment to people but also generated an estimated Rs4 to Rs6 billion in business in Lahore, sources said Monday.

The sale of kites and kite strings alone exceeded Rs2 billion during the festival, according to sources.

Businesses linked to food, catering and travel also recorded significant gains as large crowds took part in the celebrations.

Basant turned out to be a lucrative occasion not just for the general public but also for various industries.

In addition to kite and string manufacturers, the food, catering and transport sectors also reported strong earnings.

The overall revenue generated from the sale of kites, strings and food items during the festival is estimated at between Rs4 billion and Rs6 billion.

Barbecue parties held across the city during Basant boosted the poultry industry, while catering services, fast-food outlets and bakeries earned millions of rupees.

Transporters also benefited as people from other cities travelled to Lahore to participate in the festivities, leading to unusually heavy crowds in markets across the city.

According to the Punjab government, more than 2.068 million passengers were provided free travel facilities during the three days of Basant.

Over 900,000 passengers travelled free of cost on the Orange Line Metro Train, while more than 400,000 commuters benefited from the Metro Bus service.

Additionally, more than 530,000 passengers used Speedo buses, and over 121,000 commuters availed free travel on electric buses during the festival period.