On April 27, the Punjab Assembly of Pakistan approved the Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2026, establishing 18 years as the minimum legal marriage age for both boys and girls. Some conservative members opposed the bill, arguing that it conflicts with social and religious traditions; however, it was passed by a majority vote. Once signed by the Governor, it will formally become law and apply to all citizens, including Muslims and non-Muslims such as Christians. Previously, under the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929, the legal age was 18 for men and 16 for women.
Child marriage remains widespread in Pakistani society, particularly among poorer and less-educated communities. This practice has grave consequences for the health and well-being of children, especially young girls. While some view it as rooted in social customs, others regard it as inhumane and a violation of fundamental rights. International frameworks, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), define child marriage—any union involving a person under 18—as a human rights violation that undermines health, education, and autonomy. Consequently, human rights organisations called for addressing this issue in line with international human rights standards.
The passage of the new bill by the Punjab Assembly is a positive development. Christians and human rights activists have welcomed the move, having long demanded a uniform minimum marriage age, particularly to protect minority girls. Many underage girls from the Christian community are reportedly vulnerable to kidnapping, forced conversion, and forced marriage to their abductors. They hope the new law will help reduce the risks faced by both Christian and Hindu girls.
“It is a welcome and progressive development. We commend this important legislative step, as well as all those individuals and stakeholders who played a constructive role in advancing this reform. We also appreciate every positive voice that supported the protection of children’s rights and welfare,” said Kiran Afzaal, Advocate, a senior lawyer from Lahore.
Earlier, on April 13, the Punjab Assembly’s Standing Committee on Local Government and Community Development approved the bill, despite reservations from some members, including the committee’s chairperson, Pakistan Muslim League (N) MPA Pir Ashraf Rasool, who argued that the bill contradicts prevailing social realities.
Some cautiously welcomed the bill, expressing hope that it will help reduce incidents of forced conversion and forced marriage involving Christian and Hindu girls. The abduction, forced conversion, and forced marriage of minority girls—many of them minors—remain serious concerns for non-Muslim citizens. Minority groups and human rights organisations have consistently raised alarm over these abuses, which disproportionately affect already marginalised communities. Minority Concern, a minority rights organisation, described the bill as a step in the right direction. However, it cautioned that even if enacted, effective implementation will take time, as the issue is deeply intertwined with cultural and social dynamics.
According to human rights groups, hundreds of Christian and Hindu women and girls—many of them minors—fall victim each year to forced conversions and marriages. A recent judgment by the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has further intensified concerns, sparking nationwide protests among Christians. On March 25, the court upheld the marriage of a 13-year-old Christian girl, Maria Shahbaz from Lahore to a 30-year-old man. That development underscored the urgency of legislative reform.
Therefore, the bill represents a timely and necessary step aimed at curbing underage marriages and eliminating gender-based discrimination. It will strengthen child protection laws across Punjab, the country’s most populous province.
The issue holds particular significance in Punjab, which is home to approximately 80 percent of Pakistan’s Christian population. Therefore, Punjab’s child marriage law could mark a turning point in Pakistan’s broader struggle to safeguard child rights.
Currently, Sindh, Balochistan, and the Islamabad Capital Territory have set the minimum marriage age at 18 for girls, while in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa—governed by former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party—the minimum age remains 16.