RAWALPINDI: A play titled Shadi Na Karna Yaro that took aim at the business of marriage bureaus was performed at the Punjab Council of the Arts Rawalpindi on Sunday.

The play is part of a programme launched by the council in collaboration with the Pakistan Artists Welfare Foundation. It was attended by a number of residents from Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Written by M. Aslam Bhatti and directed by Arshad Khan, the play starred Anjum Malik, Tehseen Jamal, Sawera Shahzadi, Jhalak Ali, Saima Khan, Anjum Abbasi, Raja Tahir and Shahzad Mughal.

The story, a comedy, revolved around the owner of a marriage bureau who offered matchmaking services as a way to dupe people.

The council’s director Waqar Ahmed told Dawn the aim of the play was to inform people to avoid marriage bureaus where matchmakers make fools of their customers.

Riaz Bhatti, who was in the audience, said he came to the council for the play.

“Although the play was a comedy, it put forward a message for people to be careful about consulting matchmakers,” he said.

Shakir Ahmed said people who are interested should come to the theatre to watch the show, but the organisation should check the story before it is performed.

Mr Ahmed said at the play that the council tries to raise awareness about social issues through performances.

He said the marriage bureau trend had forced the playwright to highlight the issue, and the play was an effort to raise public awareness.

Published in Dawn, January 6th, 2020