Punjab to Set Minimum Marriage Age at 18

The Punjab government is preparing to introduce the Child Marriage Restraint Act, setting the minimum legal age for marriage at 18 years. The move follows the example of Sindh and Islamabad and aims to curb child marriage across the province.

Qaisar Mehmood, Divisional Coordinator of the Punjab Commission on the Status of Women, announced the upcoming legislation during an international conference on the age of marriage. The event, held at a local hotel, was organized by the Potohar Organisation for Development Advocacy (Poda) with support from the Royal Norwegian Embassy, the Ministry of Human Rights, and the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus.

Scholars from several Muslim countries—including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Yemen, Indonesia, Morocco, Oman, Nigeria, Rwanda, Syria, and Tunisia—attended the conference.

Mehmood revealed that the bill has already been drafted and is now with Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. Under the proposed law, any adult who marries a girl under 18 will face two years in prison and a fine of two million rupees. Marriage registrars and witnesses will face two to three years in jail.

The announcement was met with applause, with participants expressing hope that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Gilgit-Baltistan would soon follow Punjab’s lead.

Thomas Dahl, Deputy Head of Mission at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Islamabad, praised the collective efforts to promote gender equality and protect girls’ rights. He reaffirmed Norway’s commitment to supporting Pakistan in these vital initiatives.

Murtaza Solangi, spokesperson for the President of Pakistan, called for constitutional reforms to end child marriage, describing it as a violation of basic human rights. He stressed the need to strengthen laws and educate families about the harmful effects of early marriage on girls’ health, minds, and futures.

Minister of State for Law, Justice and Human Rights, Barrister Aqeel Malik, noted that Sindh was the first province to enforce a minimum marriage age. He said efforts are underway to introduce uniform child marriage restraint laws nationwide.

Poda Executive Director Sameena Nazir welcomed the dignitaries and highlighted that child marriage remains a critical issue in many Muslim-majority countries, including Pakistan.

According to UNICEF, Pakistan is home to nearly 19 million child brides, with one in every six girls married before turning 18. Experts at the conference called for a coordinated national action plan to eliminate child marriage and address the resulting social and health challenges.