Banquet owners reject indoor wedding ban, call govt to review its decision

Karachi Banquet Hall Association president Shariq Memon on Tuesday rejected government’s ban on indoor weddings saying COVID-19 SOPs are being followed so there is no justification for the closure.

The move from the government came following an alarming increase in the coronavirus cases across the country. The government has banned indoor marriage ceremonies from November 20 till January 31 while ceremonies can take place at open places following the SOPs.

Talking to ARY News, Shariq Memon said masks and sanitizers are arranged at the main entrances of wedding halls, all SOPs are also enforced, yet the government has decided to close the wedding halls. There is no justification for the closure.

The President said, “We [the association] are ready to follow SOPs more strictly to curb the spread of coronavirus, but the government should reconsider its decision.”

Meanwhile, the Punjab government has formed a team under the leadership of health minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid and tasked it to provide recommendations over alternate options to NCOC's indoor wedding ban in the next 24 hours.

The recommendations will be presented before the NCOC in the next meeting.

In its last notification, NCOC banned indoor weddings starting November 20 and limited outdoor functions to up to 1,000 guests.