Islamabad, Nov 12: Pakistan Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali has ordered authorities to crack down on fashion shows because they are un-Islamic and give Pakistan a bad image, a local newspaper reported today. An Interior Ministry order dated October 25 was carried by the news daily, directing hotels and officials to put an end to the gala parades that are a regular event at city hotels.

"It has been observed that different functions are organised under the garb of fashion shows at leading hotels of the provinces and federal capital, which militate against our national culture and Islamic values," the order said. "Such activities are not reflective either of our culture or heritage and subsequently paint the government in bad light.

"The Prime Minister has taken serious notice of such undesirable activities and has directed that the administration and hotel managements be issued strict instructions to avoid recurrence of such programs, which are not in consonance with Islamic values and norms of decency."

Bureau Report