TAXILA: As many as 12 couples tied the knot as per their religious rituals at a mass marriage ceremony organised by Minhaj Welfare Foundation (MWF) at a marriage hall near Wah on Sunday.

Besides office-bearers of the foundation, administration officials, workers from political and welfare associations, relatives of the couples and members of civil society participated in the ceremony.

According to the organisers, so far over 100 couples have gotten married at ceremonies organised by the foundation and this was the ninth event.

Speakers said there are many parents in our society who are unable to arrange marriages of their adult sons and daughters due to financial and other constraints. They said the trust was helping such parents get their sons and daughters married, appealing to people to arrange mass wedding ceremonies for those who could not afford the expenses of their children’s marriages.

MWF (Rawalpindi district) General Secretary Saifur Rehman said the marriage ceremony was being organised in Taxila for nine consecutive years. He said with the financial assistance of philanthropists, so far marriage ceremonies of around 100 couples belonging to Taxila and Wah had been arranged. He said 50 guests of each couple including their relatives and friends were served lunch.

Chief guest at the event, Dr Hussain Mohiuddin, vice chancellor of Minhaj University, said under the prevailing conditions, it was difficult for parents to marry off their daughters.

In these dire circumstances, the foundation has started a grand project of collective marriages. Most people facing financial challenges, he said, are unable to marry their daughters because of the demand of a heavy dowry. He said the concept of holding mass wedding ceremonies was to support the poor segment of society financially and ensure timely marriages of their daughters in a respectable way.

“The holding of mass wedding ceremonies in the era of materialism is not less than a miracle for the poor,” Mr Hussain said, adding conducting these ceremonies is a good omen as it provides solace to the destitute.

He said that the foundation has been holding mass marriage ceremonies at the central, provincial and divisional level every year to help poor parents discharge their responsibility of marrying off their daughters.

He said so far 2,700 couples across the country had solemnised their marriages through arrangements made by the MWF.

The newly-wed couples thanked the foundation for their help and said such weddings should be organised in other areas as well to help poor people.

Published in Dawn, November 22nd, 2021