Nearly 15,000 women filed for khula last year in Karachi due to financial insecurity: report

Nearly 15,000 women in Karachi filed for divorce or khula from their husbands in 2023 due to their partners' failure to provide adequate financial support.

Advocate Rubina Jatoi revealed the number of khula cases in the metropolis during an event at the University of Karachi, stating that 14,973 women had chosen to dissolve their marriages.

The increasing prevalence of divorce among younger couples in Pakistan has led to growing societal concerns and debate, particularly among older generations.

Opinions in the country are divided, with some blaming women for not compromising with their in-laws or partners, while others argue that women are no longer tolerating unfair treatment from their spouses and families.

In Pakistan, divorce remains a complex taboo for women, with many grappling with societal stigmas and stereotypes.

A Gallup Pakistan survey in 2019 revealed that 58 percent of Pakistanis believed divorce rates were rising in the country.

The majority of survey participants maintained that marital discords occur due to interference from the couple's in-laws.

A recent study, "Examining divorce risk through gender roles in Pakistan," found that women in Pakistan are more likely to be divorced than men, across all scenarios.

The research also showed that divorce is more prevalent in urban areas due to a lack of “social integration.”