TAXILA: Open violation of the Punjab government’s one-dish policy in marriage ceremonies is going on with impunity in Taxila and Wah.

Scores of wedding halls have been set up on G.T. Road, Taxila-Hattar Road and other localities of the twin cities of Taxila and Wah that are offering food packages.

For the past few years, the Punjab government has imposed a ban on serving more than one dish in marriages and the local administration is bound to keep a check on this. However, in reality, many citizens in connivance with marriage hall managements and city government officers have devised several new ways of violating the law.

It has been observed that more than one dish of food was served but in the name of salad or snacks. “Additional dishes are not served on tables but directly to guests,” said the manager of a renowned marriage hall. He said we only display the one dish menu on tables to deceive checking parties of the government.

Inside sources said that hall owners are booking marriage functions with a restriction for the host as per which he will be required to pay fine in case of a raid during the event.

However, despite all, not a single hall or marquee has been sealed reportedly due to “political pressure”. Meer Farooq, a catering contractor said that hall owners would not earn a “considerable” profit if they would go for single dish. He said with packages of multiple dishes, the profit margin increased, adding it was the fault of the administration that was just imposing a minor fine on hall owners rather than going closing them.

During wedding season, he said hall owners could not afford closure of their premises and ultimately the government would succeed in controlling the menace.

When contacted, an official of the local administration said: “We have proof of multiple dishes being offered at wedding ceremonies but we are helpless as these halls belong to influential personalities or politicians. No case had been registered against marriage hall owners for violation of policy during the past three months.”

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2022