ISLAMABAD: The government in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province has launched a mass marriage program for 3,000 underprivileged women and started receiving applications in this regard, Pakistani state-run media reported on Monday.
Marriages are often a costly and extravagant affair in Pakistan, placing a significant financial burden on families, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds. The traditional South Asian wedding festivities include costly ceremonies, lavish food, and ornate decorations.
This financial burden has taken a toll on many Pakistanis as the country suffers a prolonged economic crisis characterized by soaring inflation and inflated power bills. As per local customs, the bride’s male relatives are also often expected to give dowry to the groom, with the condition often delaying marriages.
“Chief Minister Punjab’s ‘Dhee Rani’ Mass Wedding Program has been launched in the province,” the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported on Monday. “Under the program, the receiving of applications for inclusion in mass weddings has begun.”
Applications for the program can be submitted online at https://cm.punjab.gov.pk. A helpline has also been set up on 1312 in this regard, while special teams will visit homes of the applicants to ensure transparency, according to the report.
Under the mass marriage program, each bride will receive around Rs100,000 ($350) along with furniture, clothing, dinner set and 13 essential household items.
Mass marriages for lower-income communities are regularly held across Pakistan, supported by government initiatives, philanthropic efforts and local communities. The practice usually involves tens of couples who marry at a single ceremony, significantly reducing the costs.
In January, 122 Hindu couples were married in a similar ceremony hosted by the Pakistan Hindu Council in the country’s southern port city of Karachi.