Mass marriages held at Governor House Punjab

Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool has urged the philanthropists to join hands with the government in its efforts for overcoming unemployment, poverty alleviation and providing better health care facilities to people.
He said this while addressing a mass marriage ceremony held at Governor House on Saturday, where as many as 50 girls-45 Muslim and 5 Christian-from poor families were wedded.
The ceremony, which was arranged by Begum and Khalid Maqbool, was attended by around 3,000 people including the Governor's mother, Rubina Shaheen, MNA and Chairperson of Amir Begum Trust, MCB Chairman Mohammad Mansha, Abid Hussain, philanthropists, relatives of the brides and bridegrooms and others.
The Governor paid tributes to Seth Abid, Riaz Hussain, Chief Executive of Bahria Town, and Farah Nawaz Chughtai for presenting gifts of Rs 40,000 and Rs 10,000 cash to each bride.
He said that such philanthropists were a ray of hope for the society, and others should follow their example.
Arrangements for entertainment of the guests were made with the co-operation of Malik Zafar Catering, Nirala Sweets and Country Juices.
The Governor said it was the responsibly of the government to work for the welfare of the poor segments of society.
By holding this ceremony of mass marriages the government has provided a platform to encourage the tradition of collective marriages in society, he added.
He also announced to set up a fund raising committee for collective marriages of girls belonging to poor families. Mohammad Manshah will head the committee while Abid, Riaz Hussain and District Nazim Aamir Mahmood will be the members.
Mian Manshah announced that his bank would open accounts in its 1,200 branches to collect donations for the cause of collective marriages.
Later, talking to newsmen, the Governor said that arrangements were being finalised for holding another mass marriage ceremony at Al-Hamra Cultural Complex in April this year, in which about 100 couples would be wedded.
He said that Chief Executive of Haier Group of Companies Mohammad Shah Afridi will bear the expenditure to be incurred on the marriages and dowry of 50 brides.