LAHORE, Jan 18: Fifty couples were joined in marriage at a ceremony at the Governor's House on Sunday. Governor Khalid Maqbool presided over the ceremony which was also attended by his wife and mother , Amir Begum Trust president Rubina Shaheen and sponsors.

The ceremony was financed by philanthropists Seth Abid Husain of Abid Group of Companies, Malik Riaz Hussain of Bharia Town and Farrukh Nawaz Chugtai. Each bride was given dowry worth Rs40,000 besides Rs10,000.

The catering services were sponsored by Malik Zafar Catering, Nirala Sweets and Country Juice on Sunday. Forty-five Muslim girls were selected by the District Zakat Committee out of 264 applicants and five Christian girls were nominated by the Church.

Governor Khalid Maqbool said on the occasion that the government was trying to institutionalize the collective marriages with the help of philanthropists.

He also constituted a committee for fund raising for collective marriages. The committee would comprise of Chief Executive of the Muslim Commercial Bank, Mian Muhammad Mansha, Bahria Town Chief Executive Malik Riaz Hussain and District Nazim Mian Amer Mahmood.

Khalid Maqbool said that 100 more girls would be married collectively in April this year at Alhamra Cultural Complex and the Haire Group of Companies has announced sponsorship for 50 couples.