The Standing Committee on Local Government of the Punjab Assembly has approved a landmark ordinance aimed at banning early-age marriages across the province, tightening legal measures against child marriage, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Monday.
The meeting, chaired by Committee Chairman Pir Ashraf Rasool, endorsed the Punjab Child Marriage Ordinance 2026, which has already received the Punjab Governor's approval, Sardar Saleem Haider.
According to the text of the ordinance, marriage below the age of 18 has been strictly prohibited, making it mandatory for both the bride and groom to be at least eighteen years old at the time of marriage.
The ordinance introduces stringent penalties for violations. Any underage marriage will be treated as a punishable offence under criminal law. Individuals who arrange or register the marriage of a minor will face a minimum of one year imprisonment along with a fine of Rs100,000. Those who marry a minor boy or girl could face up to three years in prison and a fine of Rs500,000.
In a significant provision, marriage involving individuals under 18 will be treated as rape, carrying a punishment of up to seven years imprisonment and a fine of Rs1 million. The law also targets those attempting to bypass provincial jurisdiction, stating that anyone who takes a minor from Punjab to another province for marriage will face similar penalties of seven years imprisonment and a Rs1 million fine.
Guardians or individuals attempting to facilitate child marriage will face up to two years in prison and a fine of Rs5 million. Marriage registrars and parents may also be held accountable in cases of negligence.
Following committee approval, the ordinance will now be presented before the Punjab Assembly for final approval. Once passed by the House, it will become a regular law.
The meeting was attended by Child Protection Bureau Chairperson Sara Ahmed, PML-N Chief Whip Rana Arshad, Amjad Ali Javed, Secretary Local Government Shakeel Mian, and other relevant officials. Lawmakers, including Zulfiqar Ali Shah, Ahmed Khan Leghari, and Arshad Malik, were also present, while a large number of women MPAs participated in the session as observers.
Reporter: Rao Dilshad