Punjab sets 18 years as minimum age for marriage

Punjab Assembly's Standing Committee on Local Government and Community Development has made a significant step by setting 18 years as the minimum legal age of marriage for both boys and girls across the province, abolishing the earlier provision that had permitted the girls for marriage at the age of 16. The committee unanimously approved The Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2026 to curb the child marriages and strengthening child protection laws in the province. It further declares child marriage a cognizable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable offence, enabling immediate police action and preventing any private settlement of such cases. Under the proposed law, any person involved in facilitating child marriage, including the adult spouse, parents or guardians, Nikah registrars, or any other facilitator, may face up to seven years' imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs1 million. The law also categorizes cohabitation after such marriage as child abuse, carrying stricter punishment, and directs that all such cases be decided by the courts within 90 days. During the meeting, the committee also directed the secretary of local government to finalize draft rules under the bill and present them before the committee for final approval within 60 days. The committee observed that the legislation would play a vital role in eliminating child marriages, addressing gender disparity, and reinforcing legal protections for children in Punjab. The meeting of the standing committee was held at the Punjab Assembly under the chairmanship of MPA Muhammad Ashraf Rasool. The provincial minister for local government and community development attended the session, along with officials from the Punjab Assembly Secretariat and other relevant departments.