“Pakistan’s Punjab provincial assembly this week passed a new law banning marriage under the age of 18 for both boys and girls, introducing tougher penalties for child marriage, child trafficking and abuse linked to underage unions.

The Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2026 replaces older legislation dating back to 1929 and makes child marriage-related offenses cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable.

Pakistan has one of the highest rates of child marriage in South Asia, particularly in rural and low-income communities, with rights organizations warning that early marriage exposes girls to higher risks of domestic violence, school dropouts, early pregnancies and long-term health complications.

Sindh was the first province in Pakistan to set the minimum marriage age at 18 for both boys and girls through legislation passed in 2013, while other provinces have largely retained older legal frameworks setting the minimum age for girls at 16.”

From Arab News.