KARACHI: The Sindh government on Saturday extended its deadline by three months for the early closure of wedding halls and one-dish policy across the province.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had directed the authorities to enforce closure of wedding halls by 10pm from Nov 1. However, in less than a fortnight he reversed his decision and set Feb 1 as the new deadline for the implementation of the early closure of wedding halls.

He announced the decision after a meeting with Industries Minister Manzoor Wassan at CM House.

CM Shah agreed to the advice for extending the deadline by a further three months asking wedding hall associations to ensure serving of limited dishes at wedding parties and winding them up by 10 pm from Feb1.In his briefing to the CM, Mr Wassan said he had consulted with the office-bearers of various wedding hall associations and got them agreed to close the halls by 10pm.

He said bookings for marriage functions and menus got decided at least three to four months in advance. `That`s why it would be appropriate not to press the managements to dishonour their commitment with the people and reimburse them their paid amount.

He requested the CM to extend the deadline by three months.

Mr Shah accepted the minister`s request and extended the cut-off date.

`I am taking this decision in the larger interest of the people,` said the CM, adding, `I have asked the minister to develop consensus among the wedding hall associations to make it a consensus decision.

Mr Shah said people had widely applauded his one-dish policy.

He asked Mr Wassan to continue his con-sultation with the stakeholders, including clubs, etc, to get the government decision duly implemented.

Decision to freeze LG bank accounts defended Defending the freezing of the local government institutions` bank accounts, the CM said that his administration had took the decision across the province for the purpose of redistribution of financial resources.

He, however, said that the salary accounts of all LG bodies were functional.

CM Shah said freezing of the accounts was focused on redistribution of financial resources among the existing municipal bodies with amended or new jurisdictions.

`Some new local bodies have been carved out from the old ones for which distribution of funds has to be made accordingly,` hesaid, adding, the new municipalities had no allocations and their share was going to the old ones, thus, the process of redistribution of funds became mandatory.

He said that the salary funds had not been frozen and employees could draw their salaries as usual.

He added that the redistribution of funds among the old and new local bodies would be completed by the first week of November after which the bank accounts would get functional.

Diwali holiday Wishing Diwali greetings, Mr Shah declared Monday as a holiday for the Hindu community.

He said since Diwali fell on Sunday the weeldy holiday his government offered Monday as a holiday. `This is a gift of the PPP government for you.