The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has introduced a withholding tax on wedding hall bookings, which will be levied directly on the party making the reservation, rather than on the hall owners.
A representative group from the Wedding Hall Association held discussions with FBR representatives in Karachi, resulting in an agreement to impose a 10% withholding tax on wedding events.
Rana Rais, the President of the Wedding Hall Association, confirmed that the 10% tax will apply to the individuals or groups booking the hall for their event.
He further explained that this decision was made with input from FBR officials, and the tax would be calculated in addition to the standard rental fee for the wedding hall. He emphasized that the tax is not the responsibility of the wedding hall owners.
Amount of tax
The tax will be 10% of the total amount that the person is booking the marriage hall for. For example, if earlier, you were booking a walima event for 100 people that cost you 250000 pkr. With the introduction of this additional tax, you will have to pay 25000 pkr extra on top of the 250000 pkr for booking the same event.
Implementation of wedding halls tax
The new tax on marriage halls in Pakistan is already in place as the directive was issued in December 2024.
So anyone planning to get married in 2025 own wards and looking to book a wedding hall, would have to increase their budget by 10% as this will be additional burden on top of existing expansive.
Are Pakistanis happy with wedding hall tax?
With the inflation going skyrocket, imposing an extra 10% tax on hall bookings will further increase the miseries of the unmarried Pakistanis who are already struggling to find rishtas due to challenging demands of the other party.
Our team talked to few people and had the following views.
Akbar,who belongs to the lower middle class in Pakistan mentioned “I have been collecting money for last 10 years for my first wedding, I never had any girl friend, I am already 40,this increase in halls tax already delayed my marriage by 1 year as my salary is limited.”
Salim from gulshan ravi lahore said,”If you cannot afford the additional 10%,don’t go for the most luxurious halls.Go for the halls in cheaper areas,where they serve thandi murghi.The basic rate will be pretty low and consequently the 10% on top.”
Salma who is one of 5 sisters,yet to be married, mentioned,”I think for parents of girls, the government could wave of these taxes,specially for lower middle class. “
Usman,who will be having a combined walima for his 3 sons mentioned,”I know 10% is high,but you can manage it by having combined walimas,like i am doing for my 3 sons. For other 9 children,I will plan a similar thing.”
Salman is a young guy in his teens,he is a student of most prestigious universities in Pakistan and he said,”I do not think imposing such tax is a big issue,since my father can afford to pay it,even he can who would like to invite 700 people on a walima unless your relatives are gonna gift you luxury gifts “.
Sardar Asif,who is a landlord with many income streams seemed content in way. “I think if someone is spending huge amount of money for booking a wedding hall,there is no harm in paying 10% extra to the government. If you are getting the biggest joy of your life,there is no harm in sharing that joy with the government. I am pretty sure people are reserving extra money for the needy,like dancers,bhaands,and transgenders,why not pay it to the government too.”
Amir is 60,with 15 children and now,getting married for 4th time to young Shagufta said, “I can even pay 100% extra to have the walima party at the wedding hall my 24 year old wife selected.Who will not spend extra for the love of his life”.
Faria just returned after MBA from UK to get married to his Australian groom-to-be and said,”My father sponsored my MBA,and he wants to have the best wedding for me,and I guess he will not have any issue with paying 10%. “
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