Makran has a unique history regarding the status of women. Every woman in Kech has control over the property acquired from her husband as dower and, as the Islamic law of inheritance is followed, she may expect in course of time to inherit a portion of her parents’ property and will be entitled to a share in her husbands property if he pre-decease her. Sometimes this ownership of the property saves a women from divorce as in that situation her husband has to transfer the property which he promised her as haq mehr. Furthermore it may be mentioned that it has been customary to attribute the qualities of a son or daughter to the mother and not to the father.

A few women have joined the formal sector through government jobs, specially in the field of education. Few girls are working as motivators for Primary Education Development Project as well as for the Water and Sanitation Cell of the LG&RDD. Since 1995, the government has started employing middle-pass girls as Lady Health Workers under the Prime Minister’s Programme for Family Planning and Basic Health. The Strengthening Participatory Organisation is promoting community based organisation of women in Kech for education and income generation activities. Through these opportunities women are striving towards economic independence, but still women are either deprived of many income generation activities or being exploited by undervaluing such activities. One such example is of embroidery work which is bought from the women at nominal price and is further sold in the markets of Quetta or Karachi at much higher prices.

The economic independence of women in Kech is not fully translated into social independence. She has multiple roles, but either the socio-cultural milieu does not allow her to perform these roles satisfactorily, or she has no opportunities. Sometimes her role performance is restricted to what suits the male domination. She makes many of the routine domestic decisions but decisions regarding major issues, like children’s marriages, are made by males in the family. However, she definitely has an advisory position in decision making. Unmarried girls have no say in the decision about their marriage. Although veil is not very strictly practised in Kech, very few women can be seen around. It is not an appreciable act for women to go outside their homes alone, even for a medical check-up. Male drivers do not like to seat their female family members adjacent to themselves.

Kech is still a male dominated society where the boy is preferred. This preference results in discrimination of girls in education, health and nutrition. Expenditure on female education is considered a waste. In this way women loose their chance to be financially secure and they remain men’s dependants. Due to boys’ preference mothers without a boy are required to conceive repeatedly without an appropriate break which endangers their lives. Although women exclusive health facilities, e.g. four Mother and Child Health Care Centres, are established in Kech district, they do not function, as staff has not been sanctioned for two of these centres,.

Women have limited chances of recreation. Although indoor games are arranged for girls in their schools, outdoor recreational facilities are banned for them. The only political role women in Kech can play is casting their vote, usually according to the will of their male family members.