There are certain complex and sensitive issues in our society that governments often hesitate to address, choosing instead to keep them suppressed. While some segments of society do raise these issues from time to time, their voices rarely reach the corridors of power. The government led by Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif has rejected […]
child marriage
Punjab’s new child marriage law
When Punjab’s assembly raised the minimum marriage age to 18 on Monday, it finally parted ways with a century of complacency. The Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2026 closes the gender gap in the 1929 law and criminalises underage unions: adults who contract them face up to three years in prison and fines of Rs500,000, while […]
PA holds parliamentary consultation on ending child marriage
Punjab Assembly (PA) hosted a parliamentary consultation to end child marriage in the province, bringing together lawmakers, child protection authorities, legal experts, and partners to review evidence, address legislative gaps, and advance reforms to protect children’s rights, on Tuesday. The consultation was organized by the Parliamentary Development Unit in collaboration with UNFPA, reflecting the provincial […]
Saba Qamar urges action for children’s rights on World Children’s Day
ISLAMABAD: On World Children’s Day, Pakistani actress Saba Qamar used her platform to call for greater awareness and action on children’s rights in the country. Dressed in a blue Unicef shirt, Qamar, National Ambassador for Child Rights in Pakistan, urged her followers to “come together” to ensure every child’s rights are protected. In a video […]
Balochistan bans child marriages with strict penalties
QUETTA: The Balochistan Assembly on Monday passed a landmark law banning child marriage across the province, introducing strict penalties for those involved in underage unions. The legislation defines a child as anyone under the age of 18 and aims to curb a practice long driven by poverty and cultural norms. Under the new law, individuals […]
Balochistan Child Marriage Bill Sparks Intense Assembly Clash
The Balochistan child marriage bill faced chaos in the provincial assembly as lawmakers passed it with a clear majority. Opposition members shouted slogans and tore copies of the bill during the heated session. The speaker struggled to maintain order while the House pushed forward with the legislation. Despite protests, the bill moved through the chamber […]
“Stop child marriage”: Saba Qamar joins UNICEF’s mission to protect girls
Famous Pakistani actress Saba Qamar has taken a strong stand against child marriages. She became the brand ambassador for UNICEF’s major campaign aimed at ending child marriage in Pakistan. Recently, she shared a powerful video on Instagram. In it, she appeared alongside several child and teenage brides to highlight the serious harm caused by this […]
Bill to restrain underage marriage submitted in KP Assembly
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Child Marriage Restraint Bill, 2021 is submitted in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly secretariat on Monday for discussion and approval in the upcoming session. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MPA NIghat Yasmeen Orakzai submitted the bill and said the bill aimed to make the child marriage a cognizable offense and whosoever commit the offense would […]
You can’t remain single once you’re 18+
Marriage is going to be no longer a personal choice if the Sindh Assembly approves a private memeber’s bill. The private bill aims to make marriage compulsory for all above the age of 18. The parents will have to pay fine if the bill, the Sindh Compulsory Marriage Act, 2021, gets the assembly nod. The […]
Child Marriage Bill needs support from religious parties
Marriage is a precious bond between a woman and a man. Marriage at an early age is a tough challenge for the spouses, especially for a girl. The sudden shift in roles, responsibilities and environment create a lot of stress. Immaturity, physical as well as psychological, is a serious hurdle to successfully dealing with the […]