Catering business declines by 50pc: Meal ban on weddings
By Aamir Shafaat Khan
KARACHI, Nov 10: The ambiguity about the government’s stand on serving of meals at wedding receptions is posing a dilemma to many families: to feast guests with food or soft drinks.
Caterers witness over 50 per cent decline in their orders after a ban was imposed on Oct 1 by the city government under the Section 144 on serving meal in such ceremonies.
The Supreme Court’s decision, if implemented diligently, can prove to be a boon for families who cannot afford hosting dinners. For richer classes, the decision does not hold much significance: they can manage it either ways.
But the caterers have felt the pinch of this decision as their business may remain slow in case the decision remains in force with a strict vigil. Employees of catering houses may face harder times as demand for their services decline.
Many hall owners are refusing to take orders from families who insist on arranging dinner for wedding ceremonies. Some well-connected hall owners, however, are still serving clients who are inclined to serve meals at a price.
Many families arrange dinner at their houses for close relatives by skipping other guests and friends. Besides, there is also a tradition in many families of sending food (degs) to the residence of bride and bridegroom. Poor families, who find it hard to afford reception, get a relief because of the ban.
La Rosh Catering and Decorating Service chief executive officer Khurshed Ahmed said orders for meal had declined by 50-60 per cent, as families had changed their menus from meal to faluda, cold drink, Kashmiri tea, ice cream, etc.
However, he said currently people were booking their orders for both beverages and food items. He said half of the orders placed so far had been switched to beverages. He added that workers and other staff associated were sitting idle these days.
Another leading caterer said orders for meals had declined by 50 per cent after the ban. “Enquiries from people about the ban on serving meals continue pouring in,” he said, adding that many families had changed their menus to beverages from food items.
Another caterer, who asked not to be named, said he had not received any notification from the government, but added that people are serving meals openly in posh areas in violation of the ban.
“People are confused as 50 per cent of them are not ready to place orders for meals, while the remaining have no fear in putting orders for meals as they know how to handle the situation,” the caterer said.
The city government, taking notice of the violation of the Supreme Court decision, had also issued directives on October 1 to the police and other departments concerned to take stern action against violators.
District Coordination Officer Fazrul Rahman had already directed the executive district officer (EDO) revenue to ensure that the ban is implemented through deputy district officer (revenue) of towns. He also directed the officers to lodge reports of violation in their respective police stations so that legal action could be taken.
EDO Revenue Capt Hashim Raza Zaidi issued instructions to the DDOs only on Wednesday to beef up their efforts in enforcing the decision.
Meanwhile, chicken dealers rule out the possibility of a massive decline in consumption of chicken as people are arranging dinners for limited persons at their residence.
