April 28, 2026
By Aitzaz Ibrahim
LAHORE
Monday’s Punjab Assembly session became a cause for celebration among child rights activists, and those working for the working for the welfare of children especially regarding child marriage, as the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2026, was finally passed, setting 18 years as the minimum legal age for marriage for both boys and girls and declaring underage marriage a non-bailable offence. The passage of this bill brings Punjab in line with Sindh, Balochistan and the Islamabad Capital Territory, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remains the only province without a similar law.
The legislation was presented before the House for voting by Provincial Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman after it had earlier been approved by the Punjab Assembly’s Standing Committee on Local Government and Community Development.
The bill marks a major change in Punjab’s legal framework by replacing earlier provisions under the Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929, which allowed marriage at 16 years for girls and 18 years for boys. Under the new law, the minimum age for marriage has been fixed at 18 years for both girls and boys.
The House also passed an amendment requiring the “best interests of the child” to be treated as a primary consideration in all actions under the law, including investigation, prosecution, bail, sentencing and protective custody.
The amendment was moved by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Ejaz Augustine and co-signed by 13 members from both treasury and opposition benches, reflecting rare cross-party consensus on child protection.
The amendment states that no child should be treated as an offender merely for being a contracting party to a child marriage.
It further provides that where a child has been taken, enticed, induced, coerced, trafficked or otherwise removed from lawful guardianship for the purpose of marriage, the court shall not treat the child’s statement or purported consent to reside with or accompany the adult contracting party as determinative in matters of custody, residence or protective orders.
Debate in the House
However the passage of the bill did not come without criticism and resistence.
Opposition members termed the bill contrary to Islamic principles and the spirit of religious teachings, and proposed that it be sent back to the relevant standing committee for reconsideration. The proposal was put to a vote and rejected by the House.
During the debate, Provincial Minister for Information and Culture Azma Zahid Bokhari strongly defended the legislation and criticised those opposing it.
She questioned whether opponents of the bill would prefer their own daughters to be married at nine or 11 years of age, adding that many people arrange marriages of their own daughters at 20 to 25 years while seeking to permit early marriages for others.
She said that under existing laws, citizens cannot enter into contracts until the age of 18 and after obtaining a national identity card, yet some people wanted one of life’s most important decisions to be made at a younger age.
She also told the House that early marriages of underage girls were contributing to deaths and serious health complications.
Proposed amendments
A joint amendment submitted by 16 treasury and opposition members sought to declare marriages contracted under child marriage circumstances void.
However, after debate in the House, the amendment was withdrawn.
Another amendment jointly moved by government and opposition members proposed making the Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) mandatory proof of age in such cases.
The proposal was later withdrawn after government ministers assured lawmakers that the requirement would be incorporated into the rules framed under the law.
A separate amendment moved by government member Zulfiqar Ali Shah proposed that, under court orders and in special circumstances, marriages involving minors should not be treated as an offence where such unions were considered in the best interests of the children and supported by parents.
Speaking in support of his amendment, Shah argued that special circumstances could include economic and social hardships, and that courts should have the authority to allow marriages below 18 in such cases.The amendment was rejected through voting.
Key provisions of the law
The bill introduces strict punishments for all those involved in facilitating underage marriages.
Nikah registrars have been barred from registering marriages involving minors. Violations may lead to imprisonment of up to one year and a fine of Rs100,000.
Adults entering into marriage with a child may face rigorous imprisonment from two to three years along with fines of up to Rs500,000.
The law also criminalises cohabitation resulting from child marriage as child abuse, carrying punishment of five to seven years imprisonment and a minimum fine of Rs1 million.
Guardians and facilitators who promote, permit or fail to prevent child marriages may also face imprisonment ranging from two to three years and fines up to Rs500,000.
All offences under the law have been classified as cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable.
Trials will be conducted exclusively in Courts of Session and are required to be completed within 90 days.
Wider significance
The passage of the legislation places Punjab alongside Sindh, Balochistan and Islamabad Capital Territory, where laws setting 18 years as the minimum marriage age are already in force.
With Punjab’s move, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remains the only province without a similar child marriage restraint law.
Child rights advocates and civil society organisations had long called for Punjab to enact stronger safeguards against child marriage, describing the legislation as an important step toward protecting children from exploitation, abuse and forced early unions.