One dish at weddings

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  • Is it a good move or bad move from Punjab Cabinet? I’d say Yes because it will reduce financial budget on common man.

  • Ban on smoking at public places, farm tax reform proposed.

Punjab Cabinet approves one dish at weddings

LAHORE: **The Punjab cabinet on Monday sanctioned a ban on lavish weddings and smoking in public places. However, it approved one-dish wedding parties with no more than 300 guests.

Furthermore, only drinks would be permissible for a gathering of over 300 guests.**

The cabinet also recommended a maximum fine of Rs 300,000 in case of violation of the marriage-party proposal and a maximum fine of Rs 15,000 alongwith one year behind bars for smoking in public.

The cabinet also constituted a four-member committee comprising Finance, Revenue, Agriculture and Irrigation ministers for reviewing the Agriculture Tax. The tax would now be applicable to those possessing 12 acres of agricultural land or more. Punjab Agriculture Minister Arshad Khan Lodhi and special advisor to Chief Minister Raja Bashart briefed newsmen about the decisions taken by the cabinet in a meeting presided over by the chief minister.

Mr Lodhi said the cabinet reviewed a three-point agenda of public interest and the provincial secretary of law has been directed to formulate a bill on the recommendations. The bill is due to be presented to the assembly in the January 29 session.

He said following the Supreme Court’s directions to settle the menu for marriage parties, Punjab has approved one-dish wedding functions for up to 300 guests.

The proposal also bars the use of public property as a venue for marriage ceremonies ruling out the possibility of decorating streets and passages leading to the ‘spot’. It had become a norm to decorate the entire area with fancy lights to mark wedding ceremonies.

The minister revealed that secretary law has also been directed to review the provisions against display of dowry at wedding functions. According to the recommendations, a violation of the proposed ammendments would amount to a fine between Rs 100,000 to Rs 300,000.

Revising the 1959 law on smoking, the cabinet proposed a ban on smoking at public places and sale of tobacco to those under the age of 18. He said a Rs 5,000 penalty would be awarded to those caught smoking in public for the first time, Rs 10,000 the second time and Rs 15,000 with one year imprisonment the third time.

An agri tax revision is also recommended which would increase the minimum limit from 5.5 acres to 12 acres. It also proposed a tax on the income of agriculturists. He said the government has decided to get the bill approved by the assembly instead of issuing an ordinance.

The decisions, said the minister, had been taken in the larger interest of public reducing the financial burden on common man.

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A lot of small business benefit from food arrangments at weddings. It helps the local economy.

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That makes it very tough for the host to decide wht that dish should be? I mean no matter what dish you make half of the attendees will br naraaz and stay bhookhay. No they can't complain..bai Gobhi te aweiN ee si par bakra baRha sawaad banaya nayee ne.

hmm....That brings even more interesting question..does Aalloo Gobhi counts as one dish or two?

What is so sad about this is that it is happening in the raaj of Jamaali - the guy who could fit a small grocery store in his belly....who could have thought that?

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it does help the local businesses however, its good for those who cant really afford to spent that much money. Food is the most expensive part of the weddings.

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Chann jee, :)

Wouldn't be nice for guests to come to the Host's house by having half stomach full ? :)

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I second Romans notion. It's incredibly stupid to ban meals serving at weddings. It has hampered economic growth in many ways.

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No one cares now... I have seen lots of weddings nowadays in the punjab region where many lavish dishes were served, and no one stopped it...

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Agree with Roman and outlaw here. Why not leave it to the people concerned whether they have lavish bashes or not? As for the 'common man', those that can't afford it should live within their means. It's not a law that you have to follow the lead set by others.

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Brother Xtreme,

Sure, it's not a law in Pakistan to serve your guests with meals on Weddings. But in case of our Society, it is sure a big deal, especially from the Bride's side to keep nose 1/2 long.

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Great, no problem if you can afford it, if you can't just get the maulvi in do the nikah and that's that.

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Brother Xtreme,

If a Bride family can't afford it, then we have a problem.

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PT,

I just told you how to fix that problem.

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Brother Xtreme,

Anyone can get a Maulvi.

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Exactly. problem solved.

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Mr X, It is not easy as you are making it sound like. This law gives poor families a "decent excuse" not to spend a lakh rupees on serving 500 + people.

I am for the law.

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funguy,

the principle behind the law might be a good one, but it has negative consequences on other areas like businesses as has already been pointed out. Poor families shouldn't feel the need to splash out on 500 guests and that's the issue which needs to be addressed.

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This is different with the Arabs, it is up to the guys family to have the walima and have a "dinner" of some sort.

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Majestic, I am glad to see that the Arab World is still following the wedding practices as recommended by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Unfortunately, we in Pakistan have been too influenced by the Hindu culture from the pre-partition days.

May Allah bring Pakistanis back to the right path.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Pakistani Tiger: *
Brother Xtreme,

Sure, it's not a law in Pakistan to serve your guests with meals on Weddings. But in case of our Society, it is sure a big deal, especially from the Bride's side to keep nose 1/2 long.
[/QUOTE]

I agree with you, in the Arab society it is sure a big deal also, BUT not in the case of the brides family but for the groom and his family. With Arabs it is up to the guy and his family to do everything.

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Providing a law like this giving a "decent excuse" to the poor families don't really solve the problem. Problem is with people's ignorance and phony status quo. How wealth is looked upon and how customs are followed blindly. If you make laws like these ones to "mend" the attitude then eventually you'd have a totalitarian society where you'd keep making laws to "direct" people's behaviour. It will stop them to follow something stupid as going beyond their means but it will not cure their mentality to give respect based on wealthy showcasing.

Let people learn on their own. Don't try to rule their believes or behaviour. There are other ways to make people realize the superficialities of the customs.