《中英對照》Pakistan lifts kite-flying ban 巴基斯坦解除放風箏禁令

◎魏國金

Authorities lifted a ban on kite-flying in a Pakistan province after the sport was forbidden last year following a series of deaths caused by reinforced kite strings, an official said.

一名官員表示，當局解除巴基斯坦某省的放風箏禁令，這項運動因風箏強化線造成一連串死亡意外後，於去年遭禁。

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The ban was lifted about a month ahead of Basant, an annual festival that heralds spring and is marked by flying colorful kites in the eastern province of Punjab and its capital, Lahore.

這項禁令是在風箏節前一個月解除，該節日是預示春天來臨的年度慶典，透過在東部旁遮普省與其省會拉合爾飄放顏色鮮豔的風箏來慶祝。

This year’s festival will be celebrated on Feb. 25.

今年的慶典將在2月25日舉行。

During Basant last year, seven people were fatally slashed by glass-coated or metal-reinforced kite strings, prompting authorities to ban kite-flying. They arrested hundreds who defied the new regulation. Among last year’s fatalities was a 4-year-old boy whose throat was slit by a string coated with glass as he rode on a motorcycle with his father.

去年風箏節期間，7人遭玻璃裹覆的或金屬強化的風箏線割傷死亡，促使當局禁止放風箏。他們逮捕數百名抗拒新規定的民眾。去年死者中有一名4歲男孩，他在與父親騎乘機車途中，喉嚨被一條外覆玻璃的線割開。

Glass-coated or metal strings will be banned, and authorities will issue licenses for selling kites and strings during this year’s festival. The ban will be re-imposed after the festival’s final day celebrations.

包覆玻璃或金屬風箏線將禁止使用，在今年的慶典期間，當局將對風箏與風箏線的販售核發證照。節慶結束後，將再度實施禁令。

新聞辭典

lift︰解除（禁令、制裁、封鎖），lift a ban on...解除…禁令。

herald︰名詞為先驅、預報者，動詞為預示…來臨。His rise to power heralded the end of the liberal era. （他的掌權預示自由時代的結束。）

defy︰公然反抗、使不能。Her odd behavior defies understanding.（她怪異的行為難以理解。）