Who decides marriage, birth control and family size in Pakistan?

68% female say their marriage had only mother and father deciding and nothing to do with them !

Results from the HIES / PSLM 2025 survey, conducted by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics across 30,000+ households, show an important distinction between who decides and who is consulted in two crucial decisions : marriage and birth.

On face of it , family(mother/ father) decision trumps over individual will or decision making in case of marriage with woman alone having hardly any say .

For births and family size prima facie husband and wife are primary decision makers (and not woman alone).

Much dramatised family pressure and mother in laws dont come into equation as much on birth decision .

Who decides Marriage of females in Pakistan ? (i know to many the fact that this is a question is problematic)

Only 3% of women say they alone decide their own marriage (who to marry and when)

In most cases, the household head (male) has major power if not all the power:

• 26% females say – Father decides alone

• 42% – Father decides after consulting mother

In other words 68% female say their marriage had only mother and father deciding and nothing to do with them !

Further more :

12% – Father decides after consulting the woman

11% – Father & spouse decide after consulting the woman

In other words , 23% of time some one consulted the female who was to be married !

Birth control

• 63% – Husband & wife decide jointly
• 11% – Husband decides alone
• 1% – Woman decides alone
• 23% – No decision / no discussion

Here, joint decision-making is the dominant pattern, while unilateral female decision-making remains rare.

Having more children

• 61% – Husband & wife decide jointly
• 9% – Husband decides alone
• 1% – Woman decides alone
• 13% – Decision attributed to fate / God

Matters of marriage and birth are at the centre of social systems and therefore honest and open debate is needed.

Should we question and change these mores and social values ? Should we continue with them?