Kohlu is a tribal society based on a kinship system. It is the land of the Marri tribe and the Sardar of the Marri tribe is de facto still a powerful dignitary. He exercises a great influence over the people. Although internal dissension has dissolved absolute authority of the sardar, he still is the mediator, decision maker and political representative of the people. The sardar’s family enjoys a superior status also because of its economic prosperity. The tradition of presenting a goat or sheep to the sardar is still persistent.

The majority of the people draws the normative structure from the Baloch, more specifically Marri, culture. Although Zarkoons differ in their culture from that of the Marris, many of the traditions are common among them. The men’s wear consists of a loose shalwar (trousers), qameez (shirt) and turban while the women wear a frock with shalwar and cover their head with a chaddar (wide cloth). Although the same pieces of dress are worn by all the tribesmen and women, their tribal affiliation is distinguished by the embroidery on their shirts or frocks. The educational expansion and media exposure has introduced some changes in society but the majority of the population follows a centuries old code of conduct. The traditions of giving and taking hál (news), labb (bride price), generation-after-generation rivalries, hospitality, and keeping fire arms are still prevalent in Kohlu.

Although not practised in its true sense now-a-days, the centuries old code of conduct imposes upon a tribesman:

• To avenge blood.

• To fight to death for a person who had taken refuge with him. However, an adulterer is generally refused protection.

• To defend to the last the property entrusted to him.

• To be hospitable and to provide the safety of life and property of a guest.

• To refrain from killing a woman, a Hindu, a minstrel or a boy who is not yet wearing shalwar (trousers).

• To pardon an offence on the intercession of a woman of the offender’s family, a Syed or a mulla, an exception being always made in cases of adultery and murder.

• To refrain from killing a man who has entered the shrine of a pir so long as he remains within its precincts; and also a man who, whilst fighting, begs for clemency with grass in his mouth, or a cloth round his neck or who puts down his arms.

• To cease fighting when a mullah, a Syed or a woman bearing the Qurán on his or her head, intervenes between the parties.

• To punish an adulterer with death.

In Kohlu, the society is structured on kinship basis. Tribal identity is still important and the people use the name of their clan as their last name. The political and social influence of sardars now stems from heredity as well as their economic prosperity. With the Zarkoons, the influence of the sardar is not strong. In Kohlu, important decisions, especially in case of mediation, are made at clan level. Communal leadership is in the hands of elder male members of the community. Wealth does play some role in social prestige, but the family background is considered to be more important. Political decisions are made on the clan level. If the clan has decided to support someone, rarely anybody violates the decision.

In case of conflict, parties first try to mediate through tumandars. Otherwise the decision made by the sardar is considered final. Sometimes, the people go to a court of law for their complaints but mostly the conflicts are decided within the community.

Kohlu is a kinship based society where the tribal system prevails. Decision making is mainly at community level and conflicts are resolved through mediation at the community level or by a court of law. Arms are frequent and crime uncontrolled. Child labour exists in the form of training in family trades and apprenticeship. The educational expansion and media exposure has not done much for the acceleration of socio-cultural change.

Women are socially, economically and politically marginalised. Women are subject to male domination. Health is a major problem for women, as there is only one lady doctor available in the entire district, at Kohlu. The women in Kohlu district do not have the right to inherit which Islam has bestowed upon them.