Punjab govt to reopen wedding halls from Sept 15

The bride and groom will have to wear a facemask and gloves at their wedding and maintain social distancing as long as they are at the marriage hall according to the Punjab government Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for wedding halls and marquees.

However, maintaining six feet distance for a family group photo might prove to be a herculean task for the photographers.

The Punjab government has approved opening of wedding halls and marquees from September 15 sending a wave of joy among twin cities event planners, caterers, poultry and meat suppliers and all the people attached with the industry including cooks and waiters.

Thousands of people in Rawalpindi and Islamabad had been rendered jobless due to closure of marriage halls and marquees under social distancing directives of the government to prevent the spread of coronavirus pandemic.

Sources in the district administration told The Express Tribune that the Punjab government has prepared 10-point SOPs for wedding halls and marquees ahead of their reopening from September 15. They added that not only the guests but the bride and groom would have to cover their faces with masks too.

Sources in the district administration the wedding halls and marquees would be allowed to accommodate guests only half of the total capacity. A hall having space of 200 people could only accommodate 100 guests, sources explained.

It would be mandatory for the waiters and other staffers to wear facemasks as well. The availability of hand sanitisers in washrooms would be declared a must in all wedding halls.

The hall management would be obliged to ensure implementation on the SOPs.

“Government should also announce a relief package for the marreiage halls and marquees along with the reopening SOPs to cover the losses incurred during the prolonged closure under Covid-19 lockdown,” said Asif Iqbal, central leader of the Marriage Halls Association of Rawalpindi.

Iqbal said that they will get the SOPs in writing from the Punjab government on Thursday (today), after which the association will decide on implementation.

He said that there were more than 400 small and large wedding halls and marquees in the Rawalpindi city only. Businesses have started preparing for the big reopening next week.

Everyone attached with the business of marriage halls, marquees, event management and catering is very excited over the reopening after the Covid-19 lockdown.

Iqbal said that he hoped that it will be business as usual for marriage halls and marquees from September 15 onwards.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 10^th, 2020.