With the advent of technology, every tradition, culture and function is aligning with some form of gadget. Even oppression has an upgrade, as people in South Asian societies are demanding digital gadgets and modern machinery in dowries.
Asking for dowry in itself is a condemnable and disgraceful act; soliciting someone for luxuries makes it more reprehensible. However, the culture of dowry is deeply rooted in Pakistan, as the country reports the highest rate of dowry-related deaths globally per 100,000 women, according to a recent report of World Bank.
In the early 2000s, people shamelessly asked for motorbikes and cars from the girl’s family. But as technology has advanced over time, people have started asking for latest iPhones, laptops and iPads. Owing to such opulent traditions, innumerable marriage-worthy relationships have ended.
A large number of girls in Pakistan remain unmarried due to their families’ inability to afford a dowry. I wish and pray that the concerned authorities think about this under-discussed issue of our society.
Mudasir Ahmed
Karachi
