Pak govt's austerity measures to play spoilsport at Shoaib Malik's 'walima'

Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik's planned reception at a hotel in Lahore to celebrate his wedding to Indian tennis star Sania Mirza has run into a trouble in view of an official ban on serving more than one dish at marriage functions.

Malik has made arrangements for hosting a 'walima' (reception) for 500 people at the Pearl Continental Hotel on April 22 but official regulations have ensured that the cricketer cannot offer a variety of delicious dishes to his guests.

The cricketer has asked the hotel's management to prepare a chicken salan (dish with gravy) with rice, roti and naan. Besides, a separate vegetarian dish will be prepared for Malik's guests from India. Gulab jamuns and ras malai will be served as dessert.

"We have a booking (by Malik) for 500 guests on April 22," Pearl Continental’s public relations manager Alia Tariq told PTI.

She said the hotel would have to implement the Punjab government's order to serve only one dish at wedding and 'walima' ceremonies.

"Though Malik and Mirza's marriage is of VVIP nature, we will have to implement the government's order unless there is some other direction from the authorities," Tariq said.

"We will also provide one night's stay to the couple as it is part of our walima package. Of course we will decorate their room well and give them a rosy reception," she said.

The PML-N-led government of Punjab province introduced the one-dish rule for marriage functions as part of a slew of austerity measures.