The Punjab Assembly on Monday passed the Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2026, establishing 18 years as the minimum legal age for marriage for both boys and girls. The legislation also declares underage marriage a non-bailable offence, marking a significant update in the province’s child protection and family law framework.
The bill was presented in the assembly by Punjab Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman. However, the session began amid controversy after some lawmakers raised concerns that they were not initially provided copies of the draft legislation before the proceedings started.
With its passage, the law aims to strengthen enforcement against child marriage and ensure stricter legal consequences for violations.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari raised strong objections during the session, calling the situation “unprecedented” and emphasizing the importance of transparency in the legislative process. She stated that lawmakers must be given complete access to the bill before any voting takes place to ensure informed decision-making.
Following the dispute, Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan intervened and directed that copies of the bill be distributed among all members, allowing the assembly proceedings and debate to continue smoothly.
During the discussion, Azma Bokhari stressed that both mental and physical maturity should be essential considerations before marriage. She also highlighted the need for strict age verification mechanisms, suggesting the use of official documents such as CNICs and birth certificates to prevent underage marriages.
She further opposed a proposal by PML-N lawmaker Zulfiqar Ali Shah, who suggested allowing marriages under 18 with court approval. Shah raised concerns related to societal values and moral implications, but Bokhari rejected the argument, emphasizing the serious social and psychological impact of child marriages, particularly on girls.
The Punjab Assembly passed the Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2026 by a majority vote after a detailed debate involving both treasury and opposition members.
With this legislation, the province has officially revised its earlier legal framework. Previously, the minimum legal age for marriage was 18 years for men and 16 years for women. However, the new law removes this distinction and sets a uniform minimum age of 18 for both males and females.
The updated bill also replaces and formalizes changes that were earlier introduced through a February ordinance, turning them into permanent law after approval by the assembly.
This move is seen as a significant shift in Punjab’s legal stance on child marriage, aiming to strengthen child protection laws and ensure equal legal standards for marriage age across genders.
