Punjab Sets Minimum Marriage Age at 18 for Boys and Girls

The Punjab Assembly has passed the Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2026, setting 18 years as the minimum legal age for marriage for both boys and girls across the province. The legislation, approved on Monday in Lahore, also makes underage marriage a non-bailable offence, marking a major shift in Punjab’s child-protection framework.

The bill was moved in the assembly by Punjab Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman. Its passage followed a heated debate after lawmakers initially complained that they had not received copies of the draft before the session, prompting objections over transparency and legislative procedure.

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari strongly criticised the situation, saying lawmakers should not be expected to debate and approve legislation without first reviewing its contents. Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan later directed that copies of the bill be distributed among members before the debate continued.

During the discussion, Bokhari argued that both mental and physical maturity must be considered before marriage and stressed the need for proper age verification through official documents such as birth certificates and national identity cards. She opposed suggestions that under-18 marriages should be permitted with court approval.

Some lawmakers raised concerns that a complete restriction on early marriage could conflict with social traditions. However, supporters of the bill said child marriage exposes girls to serious risks, including health complications, interrupted education, exploitation and long-term poverty.

The assembly eventually passed the bill with a majority vote after debate by both treasury and opposition members. Previously, Punjab law allowed marriage at 18 for men and 16 for women under the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929, creating a gender-based gap that has now been removed.

The new law follows an ordinance promulgated by Punjab Governor Saleem Haider in February. Since the ordinance was due to lapse in May, assembly approval was required to keep the new legal protections in force and give them permanent legislative backing.

The House also passed an amendment making the best interests of the child a primary consideration in all actions under the child marriage law, including investigation, prosecution, bail, sentencing and protective custody. The amendment also clarified that a child should not be treated as an offender merely for being part of a child marriage.

For Pakistan, the legislation is significant because child marriage remains a serious social and legal challenge across several regions. Punjab’s move brings the province closer to Sindh’s legal standard and may increase pressure for stronger child-protection reforms in other provinces.

The real test will now be enforcement. Authorities will need to ensure that marriage registrars, guardians, courts, police and local administrations implement the law consistently, while public awareness campaigns will be essential to prevent underage marriages from continuing quietly outside the formal system.