Strengthening female inheritance rights in Punjab: impacts on marriage markets and human capital

Policy brief Dec 2025 Inclusive Growth, Women's Economic Empowerment and International Women’s Day

In rural Pakistan, patriarchal norms, discriminatory inheritance practices, and weak land administration have long denied women land ownership and its associated economic and social benefits.

Policy interventions can boost women’s property rights - but should account for norms and spillover effects on families’ investment decisions affecting women. More generally, in cases with potential unintended consequences, complementary policies such as extending legal identification to women and investing in girls’ education may be beneficial.