Punjab Approves Bill to Set Minimum Marriage Age at 18
Apr 14, 2026
The Punjab Assembly’s Standing Committee on Local Government and Community Development has approved a bill to set 18 years as the minimum legal age of marriage for both boys and girls across the province.
The committee unanimously passed the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2026, removing the previous provision that allowed girls to marry at the age of 16.
Under the proposed legislation, child marriage has been declared a cognizable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable offence. This means law enforcement authorities can take immediate action, and such cases cannot be settled outside court.
According to the bill, anyone involved in facilitating a child marriage—including the adult spouse, parents or guardians, Nikah registrars, or other facilitators—may face up to seven years in prison along with a fine of up to Rs. 1 million.
The law also categorizes cohabitation following such marriages as child abuse, carrying stricter penalties. Courts have been directed to resolve related cases within 90 days to ensure timely justice.
During the meeting, the committee instructed the local government department to finalize draft rules within 60 days and present them for approval.
The legislation aims to curb child marriages, reduce gender disparity, and strengthen legal protections for children in Punjab.
The meeting was held at the Punjab Assembly under the chairmanship of Muhammad Ashraf Rasool, and was attended by the provincial minister for local government and officials from relevant departments.
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