"Delayed Marriage among Women in Pakistan: Its Social Causes and Solutions in the Islamic Perspective"

Abstract

Pakistan, an Islamic state often referred to as the fortress of Islam, has been experiencing an increase in the average age of marriage due to international changes and the world becoming a global village. Pakistan is among the countries where the trend of delayed marriages is growing. Parents strive to find a good match for their daughters so that they can lead a happy and prosperous life in their in-laws' house. Due to this wait, the number of unmarried girls in Pakistan is rapidly increasing.

According to a United Nations report, there are currently ten million women over the age of 35 in Pakistan waiting to get married. This highlights the severe issues related to marriage in Pakistan.[i]

Economic depression stands as a significant cause of delayed marriages. Approximately 34 percent of Pakistan's population lives below the poverty line[ii], unable to meet their basic needs, let alone the one-time marriage cost averaging 450,000 rupees. Hence, economic conditions constitute a primary reason for marriage delays. Additionally, several other factors contribute to this issue. This article will emphasize and discuss the social causes in detail.