‘Historic’: Human rights groups praise passage of landmark law banning child marriage in Punjab

By Christian Daily International/Morning Star News

LAHORE, Pakistan — The Punjab Province Assembly in Pakistan on Monday passed a landmark bill aimed at curbing child marriage following a heated debate between government and opposition lawmakers.

The Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2026 was approved by a majority vote after being introduced by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman. The legislation had earlier been cleared by the provincial assembly’s Standing Committee on Local Government and Community Development on April 13, and goes into effect upon signing by Punjab Gov. Saleem Haider Khan.

Christian rights advocates welcomed the move, calling it a significant step toward protecting underage minority girls from sexual exploitation linked to forced religious conversions and marriages.

The new law brings Punjab in line with Sindh and Balochistan provinces and the Islamabad Capital Territory, all of which have set 18 as the minimum legal age of marriage. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remains the only province without similar legislation…

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE…  (christianpost.com)

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