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Midnight wedding ban frustrates public

KARACHI: Those who are planning to tie the knot in the near future seem opposed to the decision of the Sindh government to impose a ban on holding wedding functions beyond midnight, taking effect from the midnight of Tuesday. The Sindh government had issued a notification last week banning marriage halls to host wedding ceremonies after midnight. Sindh Chief Secretary Fazlur Rehman had argued that the decision was taken in order to conserve electricity, and also in view to the countrywide volatile conditions. The decision was taken under section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). Mudassar Ali, a resident of North Nazimabad, whose wedding ceremony is scheduled next week, regarded the decision as ‘totally unjust’, stating that the people are already suffering from other problems and now the government wants to limit the duration of their happy times as well. “One gets married normally once in a lifetime and wants to celebrate that with pomp and show. Energy cannot be saved this way,” he argues, criticizing the decision of the government. The government would find it difficult to implement this decision in Karachi, a city with a vibrant nightlife. The majority of the population works till late evening and joins social gatherings late at night. Muhammad Abbas, a resident of Cantt area says, “It looks like as if the government officials do not know any thing about the lifestyle of the people of Karachi.” Marriage hall owners say that the implementation of the decision would put them in a financial quandary. There are some halls in the city that host events the entire night one after the other. “It is not fair and would be difficult to implement,” argues Ameer Tapal, owner of the Naila Garden in North Karachi that hosts wedding ceremonies. “Usually people start such ceremonies after midnight and they continue till early morning,” he explains. However, there are those who hailed the decision, especially people living on the streets where these marriage halls are located as well as the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC). The KESC administration says it will help save a lot of electricity. fawad ali shah

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