Introduction
The passage of the Child Marriage Restraint Act 2026 in Punjab is a major victory, but it is a victory for one province. The fight for girls’ rights is not over until every province in Pakistan sets the minimum legal age for marriage at 18 for both girls and boys. Currently, a patchwork of laws across the country means that a girl’s protection depends on where she lives. This article examines the ongoing need for a uniform legal age of 18 across Pakistan.
The Current Legal Landscape
As of 2026, the legal landscape is fragmented. Sindh and the Islamabad Capital Territory have set the minimum age at 18 for both genders. Punjab has now joined them with its 2026 Act. However, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the minimum age for girls remains 16, while Balochistan’s efforts to raise the age are pending. This means that a girl in Sindh or Punjab is legally protected from marriage until 18, while a girl in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa can be legally married at 16.
The Need for Uniformity
The disparity in marriage laws violates the principle of equal protection under the law. A girl’s rights should not depend on her postal address. The National Assembly’s Special Committee on Gender Mainstreaming has recommended that both national and provincial governments establish a uniform legal marriage age of 18 across the country. The Minister of State for Law and Justice has also emphasized the importance of achieving uniformity in marriage laws across all provinces, in line with Pakistan’s international obligations.
The Push for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan
Both Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have been the subject of legislative efforts to raise the age. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the bill to raise the age has been forwarded to the Council of Islamic Ideology for comments. In Balochistan, the bill has been approved by the Cabinet and is currently pending. While it is encouraging to see these efforts, the slow pace of legislation is concerning. The government must expedite the process in these provinces to close the gap.
Resistance to Reform
The resistance to raising the age in these provinces often comes from conservative and religious groups who argue that it goes against social norms or Islamic teachings. The Council of Islamic Ideology, in particular, has been a stumbling block, previously opposing amendments to raise the marriage age. This resistance must be met with evidence about the harms of early marriage and legal arguments that setting an age of 18 is consistent with Islamic principles of maturity, responsibility, and consent.
A National Commitment
The path forward requires a national commitment to ending child marriage. This includes not only legislative action but also a concerted effort to shift societal attitudes. Pakistan’s low ranking on the Global Gender Gap Index (148th) reflects the country’s weak performance on women’s rights. Raising the age of marriage to 18 for all girls is a fundamental step towards improving this ranking and fulfilling the nation’s commitment to gender equality. The journey towards a uniform age is an unfinished agenda that must be completed.