Pakistan’s social structure revolves mostly around family and kin-family is the basic unit of social organization providing its members with Identity and Protection. The characteristic of social structure in terms of family, briary, social occasion, marriage related issues and traditional
Kinship patterns are discusses as under.
1-
The most important feature of social structure that cut across all the provinces in Pakistan and that has proved to be most resilient of all is Patriarchy. Patriarchy means common male ancestry with strong Patriarchy values, the control men exercise over the family in particular over woman. The entire social structure is based on and defend by exercise of male control over woman and their marriage choices.
2-

Pakistan’s society is patriarchal which means the descent is counted from the father’s side. Relatives from male ancestor are considered to be real blood relations. All those who are closer in the family tree with the same forefather from a community.
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A group of peoples belonging to the same descent, same cast, same village or same profession are called Biradri. In terms of social structure, a biradri is based on kinship structure viz. Mughal, Arian, Jut, Rajput, and Sheikh Etc. In politics, these biradries invariably play a role as a group.
But when they are Fragmented and dispersed or have strong party or individual loyalties they lose their significance.
4-
People with sons and daughters of marriageable age keenly feel the necessity to participate in social occasions.
Such as marriage and religious days. The idea is also to look for Prospective spouses. The idea is also to look for prospective spouses. At the nick of a marriage day, differences with estranged relatives are resolved. Before major social Occasions, quarrels and disputes are resolved so that family clan from father side can present a united front to the village.

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Although paternal descent is considered upper yet women maintain close ties with their natal family’s trout life. The degree of involvement with maternal Ken’s varies among ethnic groups and regions. But the ties with material always preferred by the women also because Potential spouse are looked for within.
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Most marriage matters are decided by parents, usually by male head of the family. Romantic attachments have a limited role to play. With an off spring of father’s brother is preferred because property is retained within the paternal family. If a marriage is successful. It will be followed by others within their families.
7-
Rich dowry has assumed an element of compulsion or show-off. Most parents expect and at times demand heavy dowry. Marriage also involves a dower established under
Islamic law. Although some families set a symbolic Haq
Mehr, others may demand millions of rupees and regular pocket money for their daughters.
8-

A wife gains status and power as She bear a Son-Daughter are treated as a liability to be given away in an expensive marriage. Sons will bring wives for mother to supervise and provide for her in old age. Therefore mother favor their sons. In late life, mothers tend to retain far more over her son than his wife.
9-
A women’s is difficult in early years of marriage. A young bride has very little status compared with her mother-inlaw and sister-in-law. She is subservient to her mother in law and must negotiate good relations with their sister-inlaw. Her situation is made in easier if she has married a cousin and her mother-in-law also an aunt. Saas-Bahu-
Nand trio is very instrumental in keeping or destroying peace in the family……..