The Punjab Assembly on Monday passed the Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2026 by a majority vote after a lengthy and heated debate between treasury and opposition lawmakers, marking a significant legislative step toward strengthening child protection laws in the province.
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The session, chaired by Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, commenced with a delay of 53 minutes and included legislative business alongside a question hour. Punjab Information Minister Uzma Bukhari played a central role in the debate, strongly advocating for the bill and highlighting the harmful consequences of early marriages on young girls.
Addressing the assembly, Bukhari stressed that child marriages negatively impact girls’ health, education, and overall development. She argued that girls should be given the opportunity to complete their education rather than being forced into early marriages due to social or cultural pressures.
During the proceedings, Bukhari also raised procedural concerns, pointing out that copies of the bill had not been provided to lawmakers prior to the debate. In response, the speaker directed that the draft legislation be immediately distributed among all members.
Speaking further on the bill, Bukhari emphasized the importance of proper documentation in marriage, suggesting that national identity cards or birth certificates should be mandatory to verify age. A key provision of the legislation raises the minimum legal age of marriage for girls from 16 to 18 years, bringing it in line with the age requirement for boys.
The debate intensified when treasury member Zulfiqar Ali Shah proposed an amendment allowing individuals under 18 to marry with court permission. He cautioned against enacting laws that may conflict with societal norms. However, Bukhari strongly opposed the suggestion, arguing that minors lack the maturity and awareness required to make such decisions.
She maintained that both mental and physical maturity must be ensured before marriage and criticized practices where young girls are compelled into marriages under societal pressures. Bukhari also cited support from the Federal Shariat Court for similar legislation enacted by the Sindh Assembly, reinforcing the legal and constitutional backing for such reforms.
Following extensive deliberations, the bill was passed by a majority vote, reflecting both sharp divisions and an eventual consensus on the need to curb child marriages.
Separately, Provincial Minister for Minerals Sher Ali Gorchani alleged irregularities during the previous government’s tenure, claiming that vast tracts of pink salt land—up to 100,000 acres—were allocated to favored individuals through amendments in rules.
Opposition lawmaker Iqbal Khattak also raised concerns over excessive checkpoints in his constituency, alleging that citizens were being harassed under the pretext of security checks.
Earlier, on April 14, the Punjab Assembly’s Standing Committee on Local Government and Community Development had unanimously approved the bill, setting 18 years as the minimum legal age of marriage for both boys and girls and abolishing the previous provision allowing girls to marry at 16.
The law declares child marriage a cognizable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable offence, enabling immediate police action and preventing out-of-court settlements. It also prescribes strict penalties, including up to seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs1 million for those facilitating such marriages, including parents, guardians, nikah registrars, and adult spouses.
Additionally, the law categorizes cohabitation following a child marriage as child abuse, carrying harsher punishment, and mandates that all related cases be resolved by courts within 90 days.
