The numbers, which come from the United Nations (UN) on population by marital status, have illuminated a hitherto little-discussed facet of Pakistani society: the predicament faced by single women over 35.
The startling number—more than 10 million—has spurred a national dialogue and raised concerns about public perceptions and the need for reform.
Although some people in Pakistan may find the statistics shocking, many are well aware of the difficulties encountered by single women. Households with one or more unmarried daughters or women are not unusual in a society where marriage has become more complicated.
Rejection can be due to a wide range of reasons, including more subjective standards like physical appearance and socioeconomic ones like financial hardship.
