LAHORE:
Even though the government has passed several laws against the practice of giving and taking dowry, the menace is still highly prevalent in Pakistani society. It is one of the reasons why many women, particularly those belonging to lower-income families never end up marrying as their parents cannot afford a dowry. Expensive gifts ranging from gold jewellery to vehicles to large amounts of cash are demanded by grooms and their families. If the bride’s family fails to meet these demands either the marriage never takes place, or the bride has to suffer life-long humiliation and abuse by her in-laws.
High illiteracy and a lack of women empowerment have allowed such practices to continue to exist. Women’s worth is measured by the dowry they bring with them at the time of their marriage. Many people falsely believe that it is an Islamic duty that should be fulfilled. However, dowry is not compulsory in Islam and is more of a regional tradition.
It is high time that we abandon this practice altogether. The higher income groups in society can play a pivotal role by not giving dowry and avoiding making a show of it on their social media even if they give or take dowries. The relevant authorities should discourage people from the practice by ensuring strict implementation of laws. Law enforcement agencies must be instructed to act against complaints of dowry.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 7th, 2022.
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