Peshawar: A resolution to set the minimum age of marriage for girls at 18 years has been tabled in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, reigniting debate on ending child, early and forced marriages in the province.
The Provincial Alliance Against Child, Early and Forced Marriages welcomed the move and urged the provincial government to immediately present the long-pending Child Marriage Restraint Bill before the cabinet and provincial assembly to safeguard girls’ rights to education, health, and protection.
According to a press release, the resolution highlights Pakistan’s commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), emphasizing the urgent need to eliminate child and forced marriages.
The alliance stated that the proposed legislation has already completed the legal vetting process but remains pending due to a lack of political will, preventing it from being placed before the provincial cabinet for approval.
The organization noted that legal reforms establishing 18 as the minimum age of marriage have already been enacted in Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan, and the Islamabad Capital Territory, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continues to lag behind despite sustained advocacy efforts.
Speaking on the occasion, child rights advocate and Malala Fund Education Champion Qamar Naseem praised the initiative and called for the immediate presentation of the bill before the cabinet and assembly for debate and approval.
He stated that the Council of Islamic Ideology has not opposed legislation aimed at ending child marriages and has instead recognized the practice as a harmful social issue. The council has also recommended administrative measures, including mandatory national identity card verification at the time of marriage registration.
Child Rights Movement leader Zahoor Ahmad also welcomed the resolution, describing it as a significant step toward protecting girls’ education, health, dignity, and future opportunities.
The alliance further cited observations by the Federal Shariat Court, which stated that legislation setting a minimum marriage age is not contrary to Islamic principles, and urged the provincial government to move forward with the Child Marriage Restraint Bill without further delay.