Dozens of young singles gathered in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore this week to meet potential marriage partners, in the first attempt by a Britain-based matrimonial app to help people find life partners in person in the conservative Islamic country.
Marriages in Pakistan are generally arranged by parents who seek out suitable partners for their children from within their community or extended family. Dating apps are generally stigmatised and social and workplace gender discrimination is common in the country of 240 million people.
The event in Lahore was organised by Muz (formerly MuzMatch), which says its app is based on Islamic etiquette. The app is restricted to Muslim users, and in line with traditional values, gives the option to blur photos except for specific matches and allows patrons to monitor meetings.
Other smaller events that challenge traditional wedding norms are also emerging in the country.
Despite online criticism in the past for the app, the Muse event was attended by around 100 people.
A 31-year-old woman named Aimen, who did not want to be identified further, said she used the app on the recommendation of her US-based brother.
“I used the app for two weeks, but then I saw this event advertised and thought why not meet people in person?” he told Reuters.
He said his mother would have accompanied him as a guardian, but due to ill health she could not come.
Muz, launched in the UK in 2015, has over 1.5 million users in Pakistan, its second-largest market after Morocco.
Moaz, 27, said he has been using Muz for a year and hopes to find a wife through the app.
“I do get matches, but their preferences are different,” she said, adding that girls on the app expect their parents to be involved right from the beginning.
“It’s not possible (immediately),” he said, stressing the need to get to know someone before taking the next big step.
At another event, Annie’s Matchmaking Party, held in Lahore last week, an algorithm was used to match 20 young professionals after a selection process and they were invited to the conference.
Organiser Noor Ul Ain Chowdhury, 30, faced online criticism that her event promoted “hookup culture”. She responded that it was aimed at providing a safe space for singles to meet and connect.
“In Pakistan, we have two options: biased arranged marriages or time-consuming dating apps with no guarantees. Safety during meetings is also a concern,” he said.
Abdullah Ahmed, 22, was excited about the individual events and said he was confident he had found his perfect match at the Muz conference.
“The most special thing was meeting an amazing girl,” he said with an excited face. He further added that they instantly connected with each other and swapped social media handles.
He added, “We’re both Marvel fans! We’re already planning to see the new Deadpool and Wolverine together.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
