Punjab Plans Online Registration System for Christian Marriages
The Punjab government is moving ahead with proposed reforms to Christian personal laws, including the introduction of an online system for registering Christian marriages.
The proposal was discussed during the second meeting of a high-level technical committee established on the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to examine and recommend reforms concerning Christian personal laws.
Proposed Amendments to Christian Marriage Law
The meeting was chaired by Punjab Minister for Minority Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora.
Committee members agreed on proposed changes to the Christian Marriage Act and decided to submit the proposed Christian Marriage Amendment Act to the Punjab Assembly for consideration.
One of the key recommendations is the creation of a digital marriage registration system for Christian couples.
Officials said online registration is intended to make the process more transparent and improve the accuracy of official marriage records.
Committee Reviews Christian Personal Laws
During the meeting, participants also reviewed proposals concerning Christian personal laws, including recommendations prepared by a sub-committee.
The relevant government department briefed the committee on the proposed reforms, while Dr. Noel Khokhar delivered a presentation on matters related to the legislation.
The recommendations will be taken forward as part of the provincial government’s efforts to update and improve the legal framework governing Christian personal matters.
Religious Education for Minority Prisoners
The committee also approved measures aimed at providing religious education and examination opportunities to prisoners belonging to minority communities.
Under the proposal, certified teachers will be nominated to provide religious education to minority inmates.
A separate committee has been established to supervise the educational and examination arrangements, as well as oversee the selection and nomination of qualified teachers.
The proposed reforms are aimed at improving administrative processes, strengthening record-keeping and expanding access to relevant services for Christian and other minority communities in Punjab.
