The Punjab Assembly has passed an amendment bill with a majority vote to prohibit child marriages, introducing stricter legal measures to curb the practice and strengthen child protection laws.
The bill was approved during the assembly session with the aim of ensuring the protection of children, particularly young girls, and addressing the issue through more effective legislation.
Chairperson of the Child Protection Bureau, Sarah Ahmed, stated that, in line with the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, this historic legislation has been introduced to safeguard young girls and is expected to have a positive impact.
She further explained that under the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2026, strict penalties have been approved for those involved in child marriages to discourage the practice.
According to the bill, individuals above 18 years of age who marry minors will face legal punishment, while parents or guardians facilitating such marriages will also be subject to imprisonment ranging from 2 to 3 years, along with a fine of 500,000 rupees.
