The Punjab Assembly on Monday passed the Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2026, setting 18 years as the minimum legal age for marriage for both boys and girls and declaring underage marriage a non-bailable offense.
Punjab Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman presented the bill in the assembly, but the proceedings began with controversy as lawmakers were not initially provided copies of the draft.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari raised objections, calling the situation unprecedented and stressing the need for transparency in the legislative process. She said lawmakers must have full access to the bill before voting on it.
Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan later directed that copies be distributed among members, allowing the debate to proceed.
Bokhari said both mental and physical maturity should be considered before marriage and emphasized mandatory age verification through documents such as CNICs or birth certificates. She also opposed a proposal by PML-N lawmaker Zulfiqar Ali Shah to allow under-18 marriages with court permission.
Zulfiqar Ali Shah expressed concerns about societal values and moral implications, but Bokhari rejected the argument, highlighting the impact of child marriages on girls.
The assembly passed the bill by majority vote after debate from both treasury and opposition members. Previously, the legal age was 18 for men and 16 for women, but the new law replaces the earlier framework and formalizes changes introduced through a February ordinance.
Marryam nawaz sahiba ny jou wali k bghair nikah na hony ka rule bnaya wou bhot acha kaam kia hei aur ab ye b ek acha decision houga q k bhot c girls ki km umer hony k bawajood unki age ko zyada likhwa k shadi kr dety hein
THIS is unislamic.
It’s shameful act of Punjab assembly, restrictions on Nika means promotion of Zina. Girls attain puberty at the age of 14-15 years and sex becomes need of girls. Punjab assembly had supported devil by passing this act and fallen prey to the proganda of devil worshipers whose object is to promote Zina. In USA marriage age is 18 but every girl of 15 years is giving birth to bastard children. I demand death sentence for commiting Zina. No devil worshiper will support it.
Nothing will work until NADRA issues marriage licenses and without it marriage is not valid. Mullah can only sign NADRA issued license.
Jo bi ho
Abi bi Pakistan me 16 year ki bachi ki marriage ho jati ha
Rules banane se fark nhi parta us ko follow krne se parta ha aur ye kamm hamare government ka ha ke jo bi is rule ko follow na kare us ko saza di jae
I wonder who gave the government of The Punjab the right to alter the rights of people.
After puberty girls can marry. Early marriages are better. Of course, the Creator of human body and soul is a better judge than the Punjab government. When Allah has allowed marriage after puberty, what is their problem. Late marriages have serious social and medical consequences. Those damages are irreversible.