Extravagant weddings in Pakistan, marked by excessive events and unnecessary food wastage, are negatively affecting both the environment and society. This growing trend is also distorting our cultural values. Wealthy families often organise lavish, multi-day wedding celebrations which create immense social pressure on poorer families. When lesser privileged people witness such grand displays, many begin to feel a sense of inferiority, leading to stress, anxiety and even depression.
There are even claims that Pakistanis spend up to 200 billion rupees annually on weddings. Traditional values of simplicity and togetherness are being overshadowed by a culture of showmanship. Weddings are no longer cantered on meaningful celebrations; instead, many people focus on creating content for social media platforms such as reels and TikTok videos. As a result, privacy has also diminished significantly. People display fake happiness and performative love merely to gain online attention, often without genuinely enjoying the occasion themselves.
It is both a social and governmental responsibility to promote simplicity in weddings, discourage food wastage and encourage environmentally responsible and culturally meaningful celebrations.
Mahoo Lal
Gidroshi, Balochistan
