June 4, 2025
By Dauran Baloch
QUETTA
The country has taken a significant step forward by legislating against the ICT child marriage legislation, but in Balochistan, the issue remains ensnared in a complex web of tradition, resistance, and political inertia.
The province’s repeated failure to pass its bill banning underage marriage, which was tabled first in 2014, then in 2019, followed by 2022, and again in 2025 – reflects much more than procedural delay. It exposes a deep-rooted societal reluctance to confront a practice that continues to compromise the futures of countless young girls.
Statistics from the Balochistan Commission on the Status of Women paint a distressing picture. Nearly 45 percent of girls in the province are married before they turn 18, while 12.5 percent are married before the age of 15. These are not just numbers. They signal a crisis that robs girls of their health, education, autonomy, and, in many cases, their lives.
Serious health issues
Maternal mortality remains alarmingly high, with conservative estimates indicating that 1,400 out of every 100,000 girls die during childbirth, often due to complications from pregnancies their young bodies are ill-prepared for. These girls are not just deprived of education or economic independence; they are trapped in generational cycles of poverty and marginalization.
Hadia Nawaz, Parliamentary Secretary for the Population Welfare Department in Balochistan, underscores the scale of the challenge. “While legislation is essential, our experience in Sindh and Punjab shows that implementation remains a major hurdle. In remote areas, awareness is almost nonexistent. Real change will only come when families understand the emotional, educational, and health-related consequences of early marriage, not just when a law is passed.”
The proposed bill, which seeks to fix the legal marriage age at 18, is being met with cultural resistance rooted in long-standing customs. Allauddin Khilji, Resident Director of the Aurat Foundation in Quetta, points to a centuries-old mindset.
“In many communities, once a girl reaches puberty, whether at nine or 13, she is deemed ready for marriage,” she says. “But physical development does not mean mental maturity. We need to educate tribal elders, religious leaders, and families that children need time to grow before assuming adult responsibilities.”
He emphasizes that child marriage contributes to preventable deaths, family dysfunction, and long-term psychological trauma. “Medical professionals agree that early pregnancies significantly increase the risk of maternal mortality. Until we legislate and internalize the value of such laws, change will remain elusive.”
A counter narrative
Interestingly, some tribal voices are now rallying behind the cause. Mir Behram Lehri, a tribal leader and social activist, says the recent passage of the bill in the National Assembly is a hopeful sign.
“I commend the Pakistan Peoples Party for this move. Within our tribes, harmful practices, giving away girls to settle feuds, and even prenatal betrothals are still common. This legislation gives us hope that such customs can be outlawed.”
He adds that the Balochistan Cabinet’s approval of a provincial version of the bill is encouraging.
“We expect Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, who promised this reform back in 2018, to now fulfill his commitment. It’s time to break free from these destructive traditions.”
The conversation around legislation is now also extending to include health-related prerequisites. Yasmin Mughal, Senior Program Officer at Aurat Foundation, suggests a more holistic approach.
“If the legal age is set at 18, then there should also be mandatory medical screening to ensure both physical and mental readiness for marriage. Whether the bill passes or not, we must raise awareness. Civil society must step up, inform communities about existing laws, and advocate for their enforcement.”
In the face of cultural pushback, political hesitation, and institutional apathy, one thing is clear: without legislative will, educational outreach, and social reform, Balochistan’s girls will continue to bear the cost of inaction.