The society in Kalat district is tribal and male dominated. Therefore, authority is vested more in men than in women. Consequently, decisions concerning all matters are made by males. The family is considered to be the basic social institution within the tribal society, wherein the members are strongly knit together by the bonds of kinship.

The major tribes residing in Kalat district are: Dehwar, Mengal and Mohammad Hassani. Brahvi tribes form 89 percent of the total population. Dehwar tribe belongs to the Khan of Kalat’s tribe. Apart from them, Sayed and people from other ethnic groups live in the area.

The heads of the tribes are called sardars. Their position is unassailable. Within the tribe, the precedence of each clan, section and subsection is marked and defined. Therefore, the head of each such group is respected and treated accordingly. The Ahmadzais, members of the royal family, are the most influential among the tribes. Though with the passage of time their sovereign power has eclipsed due to powerful democratic trends. The majority of the people of the district is poor. About 93 percent of the working force is engaged in agriculture and allied occupations. The other fields of employment are government and private jobs, which cover 7 percent of the working population.

The majority of the people has two meals a day. The first in the morning between 9 and 11 a.m. and the second in the evening between 5 and 7 p.m. Some of the people take breakfast as well. Wheat is the staple food and is used in the form of leavened and unleavened cakes, baked on tafu (stone griddle). Meat, vegetable and pulses are normally used in the meals. However, in summer yogurt and in winter dates and butter are supplemented with bread. In urban areas eggs and meat are commonly used as part of the diet.

The male dress is comprised of a loose white shirt and a pair of Shalwar (trousers) made up of the same cloth, and a Balochi cap. The dress of a female consists of a long shirt and a pair of Shalwar. The female dresses have excellent embroidery on them, which is a local tradition. This dress with beautiful embroidery is common among both the rich and the poor. However, the ordinary dress of the poor nomads consists of a cotton shirt and shalwar. Generally, the quality of the dress reflects the socio-economic status of the residents of the area. Special dresses are prepared for the bride and the groom at the occasion of their marriage, which cost more than a normal dress. The cost may range from Rs.2,000 to Rs.10,000 for a single dress. These dresses are made of silk in beautiful colours and are heavily embroidered. Besides beautiful dresses, brides also wear various kinds of jewelry and ornaments made of silver and gold, studded with gems, such as rings, nose-rings, ear-rings, bangles, necklaces, etc. Married women usually wear dresses with bright colours and some jewelry, while the maidens generally wear simple dresses of light colours.

Various tribes reside in the area. The Khan of Kalat upholds the position of chief of all the tribes in the area. The tribes are further divided in sub-tribes and sections, which are headed by second or third line chiefs known as mirs and molihs. Although the sardari system is losing some of its importance due to the constant pressure of social reform, process of modernisation, increasing literacy rate and government intervention, the identity of an individual is still determined by the tribe he belongs to.

Although general awareness among the people about their rights, created by electronic and print media and through the expansion of education, has lessened the influence of sardars, they are still the ones who always manage to win seats in parliament. Sardars and chiefs have still considerable authority in deciding over tribal disputes. Their decisions are generally honoured.

The jirga comprises the notable persons of the tribes residing in the district. In the past, they were officially authorised to take decisions in the case of disputes among people in the area. This system worked effectively since the British times, but now it has been replaced by courts. Presently, jirga has no legal status, but it still enjoys a respectable social position and people still turn towards the jirga for quick and speedy settlement of their disputes.

The ties of kinship are very strong among the people of the area. Marriages are usually settled between near-relatives, irrespective of age difference, education, wealth, and social status of the couple. Close relatives consider it their duty to help each other in a crisis and to fight for each other against an enemy.

The women have a very limited role to play at community level. This is partly due to the tribal tradition and partly due to a general lack of education among women. They have the opportunity to participate in the marriage ceremonies of their relatives and friends. Also, they are allowed to attend parties organized at the occasion of births. They can also join the funerals of their relatives. As far as their role in the household is concerned, they have some influence. But the vital family issues and the final decisions regarding family are still made by men. Out of the 14 NGOs which are currently functioning in this area, there is only one headed by a woman.

The following conclusions have emerged from the discussion so far.

• Tribalism is dominant in Kalat district. Therefore, tribal chiefs have great influence in the area.
• Women do not play any major role in the socio-economic affairs of society. Their role is confined to domestic activities. It can be argued that women are not involved in the development process in the area. This situation is the result of the low literacy rate in the rural areas (estimated to be less than 1 percent). There is no significant difference in cities and towns. Education is considered to be the way for improvement of the women’s lives. Their social status can be raised by making it possible for them to participate in community activities. This objective can be achieved only by extending education facilities for women, everywhere in the district.
• Customs of co-operation are valuable assets of the people of this area. They can be strengthened and utilised for the benefit of the people by co-ordinating their efforts for community works, for instance the construction of small dams.
• In the resolution of conflicts, civil courts, qazi courts, jirga and bradri are involved. However, it is witnessed that qazi courts provide justice and settle disputes in a relatively short time, with a minimum of expenses. Therefore, its is suggested that the courts may be extended and made more effective.

Some poor families prefer to send their children to work instead of sending them to school to get an education. It is necessary to start a programme to raise awareness among parents about the importance of education for their children. Awareness can be created by using electronic media.

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