Sir: In certain cultures, including our own, when two people marry the wife’s family is required to give her husband and his family money or property. This is known as dowry. This culture has no place in modern, civilised society but is still practiced in some areas. No one can deny that this is a very damaging tradition, and has had a bad effect on Pakistani society. While it can be a source of monetary relief and joy for the groom and his family, it is just the opposite for the brides family. They have to bear an enormous and completely unnecessary cost to live up to society’s standards and satisfy the grooms family. Often, they are driven into ruinous debt to fulfil dowry demands. The tradition should be done away with and the government should play its role by passing the legislation required to ban it completely. MOHAMMAD AFZAL Via E-mail Published in Daily Times, January 24th 2018.