The government is considering bringing in a legislation that will restrict the number of guests at weddings, consumer affairs minister Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali told the Assembly on Friday.
“Extravagant spending on marriages and parties are a social menace and misuse of wealth. We tried to put restrictions on this and issued an administrative order but it couldn’t be implemented properly because some banquet hall owners challenged it in the court,” Ali said.
“Our intention is very good on this issue so we have prepared a detailed legislation to provide legal cover to our administrative order,” he said.
He said the draft legislation is lying with the general administration department at present.
“I hope the same would be brought in the House soon,” he said.
“The court has suggested us to leave the implementation of the Guest Control order to society’s wisdom but unfortunately our society cannot accept things until enforced by law,” he said.
The minister said that there is no law at present to regulate banquet halls.
“Owners are free to charge any amount for space or food they serve,” the minister said, and added that the new legislation on Guest Control also covers working of banquet halls and puts a tag on what they charge.