WE have often seen canopies erected in residential areas of Karachi along with street closures for some wedding or reception. It seems this menace has now spread to posh localities like, say, Clifton. There is now a growing practice of holding wedding functions illegally on the roads in Old Clifton — a ‘VVIP’ and strictly residential zone — by using temporary illegal electricity connections from the closest feeder box. One can see tents at several places outside homes, turning residential streets into makeshift wedding venues despite the availability of numerous wedding halls in the vicinity and, indeed, across Karachi.

This has become a serious nuisance for residents because these ‘wedding tents’ have loud music and celebrations that continue till late in the night, making it extremely difficult for the residents to sleep and carry on with their daily lives.

The problem does not quite end when the celebrations are over. The streets are frequently left littered with food waste, disposable plates, bottles and other rubbish, creating an unhygienic environment for the residents. Furthermore, organisers often obtain electricity through illegal connections from the nearby feeder box, which not only constitutes a violation of the law, but also creates a serious safety concern for the residents.

Will the authorities concerned wake up and take immediate and strict action under relevant laws against the use of residential areas for unauthorised wedding functions and illegal electricity connections?

Madiha
Karachi

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2026