16 April,2016 10:53 AM IST | | Agencies
The province has approved a new law for promoting 'simplicity' and discouraging 'unnecessary show off' in wedding functions
Lahore: In a bid to discourage ostentatious marriages, Pakistan's Punjab province has passed a law banning serving of more than one dish, display of fireworks and dowry during the wedding ceremony.
Violations of the new law are punishable by imprisonment for a term up to one month and a fine up to Rs 20 lakhs. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has vowed to strictly implement the new law, saying it will help promote âsimplicity' and discourage âunnecessary show off' in marriage functions in the province.
The Punjab Assembly passed the law on Thursday with majority.
Salient features of the new law
No fireworks: The law bars a person from exploding or allowing anyone to explode cracker or other explosive device, including firing by firearms, and displaying or allowing anyone to display fireworks.
No dowry âin public eye': It disallows display of dowry to the public eye and causing nuisance or disturbance to the neighbourhood beyond reasonable celebrations.
Food: Only one plate It also prohibits serving of more than one meal to guests in a marriage ceremony at any public place and bans managers of hotels, restaurants and caterers from serving more than one dish in a marriage ceremony.
10 pm curfew: The law also asked all those owning, managing or running a public place being the site of a marriage to ensure conclusion of all ceremonies relating to the marriage on or before 10 pm.
