Pakistani Singles Break Tradition and Look for Spouses in Person

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 British dating app to help people find spouses in person in the conservative Islamic country.

Marriages in Pakistan are typically arranged by parents who seek out suitable partners for their children in their communities or extended families. Dating apps are generally stigmatized, and gender segregation in society and at work remains widespread in the country of 240 million people.

The Lahore event was organized by Muzz, formerly Muzzmatch, which says its app is based on Islamic etiquette. The app is designed for Muslim users and, in a nod to traditional values, offers the ability to blur photos except for specific matches and allows caregivers to supervise meetings.

Other, smaller events are also popping up around the country that aim to challenge traditional matchmaking norms.

Despite previous criticism of the app online, around 100 people attended the Muzz event.

Aimen, a 31-year-old woman who did not want to reveal her identity, said she used the app on the recommendation of her brother who lives in the US.

“I used the app for two weeks, but then I saw an ad for this event and thought, why not meet people in person?” she told Reuters.

She added that her mother was supposed to accompany her as a caregiver but was unable to attend due to poor health.

Muzz, launched in 2015 in the U.K., which also has a large Muslim population, has more than 1.5 million users in Pakistan, its second-largest market after Morocco.

Moaz, a 27-year-old man, said he has been using Muzz for a year and hopes to find a wife through the app.

“I get proposals, but each one has different priorities,” he said, adding that girls using the app expect him to involve their parents from the very beginning.

“It’s not (immediately) possible,” he said, emphasizing the need to get to know the other person better before taking the next big step.

Annie’s Matchmaking Party, another event in Lahore, took place last week, where an algorithm matched 20 young professionals after a screening process and invited them to a meeting.

Noor ul Ain Choudhary, the 30-year-old organizer, has faced criticism online that her event promotes “hookup culture.” She has responded by saying her goal is to provide a safe space for singles to meet and connect.

“In Pakistan, we had two options: biased arranged marriages or time-consuming dating apps with no guarantees. Safety during meetings is also a concern,” she said.

Abdullah Ahmed, 22, was sceptical about in-person dates and admitted he was convinced he had found his soulmate at Muzz.

“The highlight was meeting a wonderful girl,” he said, beaming with joy, adding that they hit it off immediately and exchanged social media handles.

“We’re both Marvel fans! We’re already planning on watching the new Deadpool and Wolverine together,” he said.