CHILD marriage is common in our country, especially in rural areas. Almost 30 per cent marriages in the country fall into the category of child marriage.

Girls are victimised in the name of customs and traditions.

This is a tradition in most rural areas or villages. Poor people also marry their daughters because of financial problems.

There are five customs or traditions promoting child marriages: watta satta, paitlikkhi, swaranani, vulvar and addo-baddo.

Owing to child marriages, many girls between 12 and 18 years die either during childbirth or sexually transmitted diseases. Serious measures must be taken to help save lives of women.

SEHAR ARSHAD Karachi

Opinion

Editorial

America at 250
07 Jul, 2026

America at 250

THOUGH America’s 250th independence anniversary observed on Saturday is a significant milestone, the celebrations...
Ravi encroachments
07 Jul, 2026

Ravi encroachments

SUPARCO’S satellite imagery reveals the rapid expansion of Lahore into the floodplains of the Ravi river, with the...
Misdirected justice
07 Jul, 2026

Misdirected justice

ACHILD will be tried in a court of law over January’s deadly Gul Plaza fire that claimed 72 lives, but not, it...
Islamic banking
Updated 06 Jul, 2026

Islamic banking

THE roadmap for eliminating riba from Pakistan’s financial system from 2028 offers some clarity on how the...
Prison reforms
06 Jul, 2026

Prison reforms

IF nothing else, it was good to see the four provincial chief executives sharing a common platform. The chief...
Preserving Taxila
06 Jul, 2026

Preserving Taxila

TAXILA is far more than a collection of ancient ruins. It is one of South Asia’s greatest archaeological ...