Sindh govt discusses limitation on dowry

According to the bill, groom and his family cannot ask for dowry and there must be no pressure put on bride’s family

Sindh government has started discussions over setting a limit on dowry of Rs50,000 and those who won’t comply with it would face severe consequences and a monetary penalty.

Cabinet session headed by Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah talked upon the bill submitted in 2017 to end dowry and the session was briefed on it. The bill suggested that the dowry must not be of more than Rs50,000 and the expenditure of pre-wedding festivities must not go beyond 50,000 too, Express News reports.



According to the bill, groom and his family should not ask for dowry and there must be no pressure put on the bride’s family. It was also mentioned in the bill that during the wedding reception (rukhsati) it is mandatory for both the families to show the dowry. Those who don’t comply would be subjected to six months in prison and heavy fine.

During the discussion, CM Sindh said that these suggestions are difficult to adhere to and we should form laws in a way that its easier to follow through. "We should form laws in a way in which asking for dowry is looked down upon and to create awareness in the society over this matter," he said.



According to CM’s representative, the bill was floated but not passed in the assembly.

The Sindh government has prepared a draft law to restrict the practice of giving dowries in the province in August, 2017.

According to the Sindh Restriction of Dowry Act, 2017, any person directly or indirectly demanding a dowry from the family or relatives of the bride shall be punished with one-year’s imprisonment.  The law states that action will be taken against people blaming, harassing and insulting brides for not bringing a dowry.

“Six months punishment will be given to those who insult brides in the name of dowry,” the proposal law states, adding that no property given as dowry to the bride shall be displayed in any ceremony related to marriage. “Any person violating this law will be kept behind bars for not less than one year,” the bill said.

The law states that all property given as dowry or a bridal gift shall be the sole property of the bride and neither the husband nor his relatives will have any claim to it. The law states that the parents of the girl can give a maximum dowry of Rs50,000 to their daughter and no one can force them to cross this limit.