The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) government has embarked on an enormous enforcement initiative to help in checking excessively exuberant expenditure and food waste during wedding ceremonies. After being ordered to do so by the Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad, Irfan Nawaz Memon, a series of late-night raids in May 2026 have led to the sealing of several high-profile marquees, heavy fines, and the arrest of hall managers. The One-Dish Policy has been implemented strictly, as a part of a larger governmental initiative to make things simpler and reduce the financial strain on the middle income group.
What is the One-Dish Policy?
One-Dish Policy is a law that limits the menu at wedding ceremonies in order to maintain austerity. The 2026 enforcement guidelines state that:
Menu Limits: Hosts are allowed to serve one main course (usually a type of curry with rice or bread) and one dessert.
Guest Limit: To avoid overcrowding and traffic congestion, guest lists are recommended to stay within a manageable limit, most commonly referred to as 200 persons in the case of indoor venues.
Time Curfew: All wedding events in Islamabad should end before 10:00 PM.
وفاقی حکومت کی ون ڈش پالیسی پر عمل درآمد کے لیے ضلعی انتظامیہ اسلام آباد کا سخت حکمت عملی اپنانے کا فیصلہ، سیلنگ کے دوران عمارت میں ایونٹ منعقد کروانے پر مارکی مالک کے خلاف اندراج مقدمہ کے ساتھ ساتھ فی الفور گرفتاری عمل میں لائی جائے گی جبکہ بھاری جرمانے کے ساتھ عمارت کو سیل بھی… pic.twitter.com/SxZUlMnkyC
— DC Islamabad (@dcislamabad) May 4, 2026
The 2026 Crackdown: Arrests and Penalties
The most recent operation which escalated during the first week of May 2026 has seen Assistant Commissioners visiting venues in areas such as E-11, the Expressway and Bhara Kahu. Reportedly, some marriage halls were shut down on the spot after the inspectors had discovered a number of dishes being served, including unlicensed appetizers and second courses of meat.
Besides sealing the venues, the administration has also begun to file First Information Reports (FIRs) against hall owners who keep on violating the rules. First-time offenders have been fined more to deal with the increasing trend of non-compliance, and repeat offenders have their businesses permanently closed.
How to Avoid a Sealed Venue (Pro-Tips for Hosts and Owners)
In case you are organizing a wedding in the capital, it is important to follow these steps so that your wedding does not get hit by the police:
Adhere to the 1+1 Rule: Make sure that in your catering contract, it is clearly stated that there is one main dish and one dessert. Although salads and raita are usually excused, the addition of something like seekh kababs or tikka pieces to accompany a main korma is counted as a violation.
Stringent Timings: You can inform your guests that the dinner will be served at an early time. Hope to have the event finished by 9:45 PM so as not to get caught in a 10:00 PM raid.
Transparency with the Hall: Check that the venue is a valid No-Objection Certificate (NOC) and not currently on the blacklist of the ICT administration.
Supervise Inflow of Guests: When there is a large crowd, they are likely to check them. Make sure that the number of guests is within the approved number of guests in the venue.
