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Pakistan’s Enduring Tradition of Cousin Marriage: Culture, Challenges, and Change
In Pakistan, cousin marriage is a deeply rooted tradition that has existed for centuries, woven into the social, cultural, and familial fabric of the nation. Estimates suggest that more than 60% of marriages in Pakistan take place between first or second cousins, one of the highest rates in the world. While often framed as a matter of family unity, financial security, and cultural preservation, this practice also raises medical and social concerns that continue to spark debate.
A Cultural Tradition
For many Pakistani families, marrying within the extended family is seen as a way to strengthen family ties and maintain property, wealth, and land within the household. Families believe it promotes trust, as the couple already shares a familiar bond. Parents also feel more secure marrying their children into families they know well, often prioritizing blood relations over strangers.
Social and Economic Factors
Beyond culture, economic considerations play a strong role. By arranging marriages between cousins, families may avoid the high costs associated with traditional wedding negotiations or dowries with unrelated families. It can also ensure that inheritance remains within the same kinship circle, avoiding disputes and fragmentation of land.
The Health Debate
However, cousin marriages are not without controversy. Medical experts warn of increased risks of genetic disorders, particularly when close-relative marriages are repeated across generations. Studies conducted in Pakistan have linked consanguineous marriages to higher rates of infant mortality, congenital disabilities, and rare genetic conditions. Despite this, awareness about these health risks remains limited, especially in rural areas where tradition outweighs medical advice.
Changing Attitudes Among the Young
Urbanisation, education, and exposure to global ideas are beginning to challenge the practice among younger Pakistanis. In major cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, more young people are advocating for the freedom to marry outside their extended families. Social media has also amplified debates on cousin marriage, with many questioning whether cultural tradition should outweigh personal choice and health concerns.
Religious and Legal Perspectives
Islam, the dominant religion in Pakistan, permits cousin marriage, and religious leaders often defend it as acceptable under Islamic law. Legally, Pakistan has no restrictions against such unions. This official acceptance helps reinforce its continuation, even as other Muslim-majority countries debate stricter guidelines due to health concerns.
Looking Ahead
Cousin marriage in Pakistan remains a complex issue — one that balances tradition with modernity, family loyalty with personal autonomy, and cultural identity with public health. While it continues to dominate rural life, shifting social dynamics and growing health awareness may gradually reshape the practice in the coming generations.
Attached is news article regarding Pakistan cousin marriage
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g38l07895o.amp
Article written and configured by Christopher Stanley
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