The Standing Committee on Local Government of the Punjab Assembly has approved a landmark ordinance introducing a child marriage ban across the province, the committee said after a meeting chaired by Pir Ashraf Rasool. The Punjab Child Marriage Ordinance 2026, already signed by Governor Sardar Saleem Haider, sets out new criminal penalties aimed at ending underage unions.
Under the ordinance the minimum legal age for both bride and groom is fixed at 18 years, and any marriage involving individuals below that age will be deemed illegal and subject to criminal proceedings. The child marriage ban is designed to strengthen child protection measures and close long-standing legal gaps at the provincial level.
The law imposes a minimum punishment of one year in prison and a fine of Rs100,000 for anyone who registers or solemnizes an underage marriage. A person who contracts marriage with a minor faces up to three years imprisonment and a fine of Rs500,000. In tougher provisions the ordinance categorises marriage with a minor as an offence equivalent to rape, carrying a sentence of up to seven years and a fine of Rs1 million.
Taking a minor from Punjab to another province for the purpose of marriage attracts the same penalty under the ordinance. Parents, guardians or any person attempting to arrange or facilitate a child marriage may be punished with up to two years in jail and a fine of Rs500,000, and nikah registrars and parents can face legal action in cases of negligence.
The ordinance will be presented to the full Punjab Assembly for approval before it is formally enacted into law. The committee session was attended by Child Protection Bureau Chairperson Sarah Ahmad, Chief Whip Rana Arshad, Amjad Ali Javed and Secretary Local Government Shakeel Mian, while lawmakers including Zulfiqar Ali Shah, Ahmad Khan Laghari and Arshad Malik took part and a large number of women members observed the proceedings. Observers say the child marriage ban could have a significant impact on protection and enforcement across Punjab if the assembly gives its final nod.
