THE Punjab Assembly’s committee approval of the Child Marriage Restraint Bill, 2026, is a welcome and necessary step. By setting 18 as the minimum legal age for marriage for both genders, the province moves to correct a long-standing imbalance and protect children from a practice that has scarred generations. The bill must now be passed by the full assembly before the ordinance lapses. Early marriage is not a harmless custom; it has serious, lasting consequences. Girls married too young are more likely to drop out of school, face early pregnancies, and suffer higher risks of maternal and infant mortality. Their economic prospects shrink, locking families into cycles of poverty. At a societal level, this translates into a less educated workforce, reduced female labour participation, and a drag on economic productivity. Child marriage is not only a rights issue; it is an economic one as well.

The bill’s strength lies in its clarity. By criminalising facilitators, barring nikah registrars from solemnising such unions, and rejecting “exceptions”, it recognises the hard truth that loopholes invite exploitation. Arguments that poverty justifies early marriage miss the point. Poverty is precisely why the law must protect girls. Punjab’s move also highlights the uneven legal landscape across Pakistan. Sindh set 18 as the minimum age for both genders in 2013, while Islamabad adopted a similar standard last year. However, KP and Balochistan still allow girls to be married at 16. This patchwork approach is untenable. A child in one province cannot be afforded less protection than a child in another. The law must be harmonised nationwide, with 18 years set as the minimum age without exceptions. Passing the law is essential, however, its true value will be measured in enforcement. Without implementation, protection exists only on paper. Sindh showed the way; Punjab is moving forward. The rest must follow — swiftly.

Published in Dawn, April 15th, 2026