LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: This week, dozens of young singles gathered in Lahore for a groundbreaking in-person matchmaking event organized by Muzz, a UK-based matrimonial app formerly known as Muzzmatch.
This event marks the app’s first attempt to facilitate real-world meetings in Pakistan, a country where marriages are traditionally arranged by families and dating apps often face societal stigma.
The Lahore gathering, which attracted around 100 participants, is part of Muzz’s effort to merge Islamic etiquette with modern matchmaking practices. The app, which is exclusively for Muslim users, includes privacy features such as blurring pictures and allowing chaperones, respecting traditional values while adapting to contemporary needs.
Aimen, a 31-year-old attendee, shared her experience with a foreign news agency. After using the app for just two weeks, she decided to attend the event at the encouragement of her brother in the U.S. Although her mother, who would have been her chaperone, was unable to attend due to illness, Aimen was eager to meet potential partners in person.
Muzz, which launched in Britain in 2015, now has over 1.5 million users in Pakistan, making it the app’s second-largest market after Morocco.
The app aims to bridge the gap between traditional matchmaking and modern technology, addressing the challenges of dating in a conservative society.
Another event in Lahore, Annie’s Matchmaking Party, also sought to challenge traditional matchmaking norms by using an algorithm to pair 20 young professionals. Despite online criticism accusing the event of promoting a “hookup culture,” organizer Noor ul Ain Choudhary defended it as a safe space for singles to connect.
Participants like Abdullah Ahmed, 22, who attended the Muzz event, expressed optimism about these new approaches. Ahmed felt he might have found a promising match and was excited about their shared interests, including a mutual passion for Marvel movies.
I am an experienced writer, analyst, and author. My exposure in English journalism spans more than 28 years. In the past, I have been working with daily The Muslim (Lahore Bureau), daily Business Recorder (Lahore/Islamabad Bureaus), Daily Times, Islamabad, daily The Nation (Lahore and Karachi). With daily The Nation, I have served as Resident Editor, Karachi. Since 2009, I have been working as a Freelance Writer/Editor for American organizations.
