Sir: Dowry is a kind of compensation which is given by the parents of bride to the groom or his parents. It may be cash amount, some furniture, vehicle or other kind of household appliances. Some people believe that giving and receiving a dowry will increase their status in society. Dowry is commonly given in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal. It means that it is mostly practised in south Asian countries, excepting Bhutan. If brides’ parents don’t have enough money to give as dowry then this will badly affect the girl’s life after marriage. Mostly, husbands beat their wives if they do not bring a dowry from her parents’ home. The dowry system has given birth to many evils. Many parents take huge debts in order to give dowries to their daughters. They work hard during the rest of their lives to pay off the debts. Others do not hesitate to earn money by unfair means to meet the demand of dowry. The devil of dowry has put an end to the happiness of many couples even after marriage. Many young married girls commit suicide when they find their domestic life embittered by the daily taunts of their mothers-in-law. Nowadays, a marriage is a game of dowry hunters, Marriage, which is something sacred, should be made as simple as possible. It should not be out of place to mention one of the sayings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), “The best marriage is that upon which the least trouble and expense is bestowed.” It is sad that we have departed from the teachings of the Messenger of Allah. In recent years, there has been an increase in the value of dowries in Pakistan. Many people in Pakistan are illiterate, and many do not want to be educated. A lack of education facilitates the continuation of giving a dowry. Many Pakistanis become greedy when they think about a dowry. A dowry is a very bad thing and should be banned in all countries. MEHAK FATIMA Karachi