By Asim Shahzad
LAHORE: Civil society organizations and child rights advocates have warmly welcomed the passage of the ICT Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2025 by both the National Assembly and the Senate of Pakistan, describing it as a landmark step toward protecting the rights and well-being of children.
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The National Assembly unanimously passed a bill against child marriage of girls and declared identity cards mandatory for marriage.
In a joint statement, civil society representatives commended Parliament for taking this long-overdue measure to address child marriage—an issue that continues to impact the lives of countless children, particularly girls. They emphasized that the legislation brings Pakistan’s legal framework closer in line with its international obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
Iftikhar Mubarik, Executive Director of Search for Justice, noted that the approval of this legislation comes at a critical time when Pakistan has submitted its 6th and 7th combined periodic reports to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. He stated that this progress will likely be viewed positively by the Committee, as it demonstrates Pakistan’s willingness to address earlier recommendations and uphold international child rights standards. He further emphasized that, following the President’s assent, this enactment could set a valuable precedent for provinces such as Punjab, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to introduce similar legislation. He also recalled that Sindh has already taken the lead by enacting the Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act 2013. Alongside legislative action Rashida Qureshi, Spokesperson for the Children Advocacy Network (CAN Pakistan)—a coalition of local civil society organizations working to end violence, abuse, and exploitation of children—also welcomed the development. She termed it a milestone in the protection of children’s rights and an important step toward eliminating harmful traditional practices. She acknowledged the efforts of parliamentary stakeholders for coming together in support of children, particularly girls, whose right to education under Article 25-A of the Constitution is often undermined by early and forced marriages.
Mudasser Ahmed, Coordinator of the Child Rights Movement (Punjab), urged the Government of Punjab to expedite the finalization of the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Bill. He pointed out that while Punjab reports a relatively lower prevalence of child marriage compared to other provinces, the problem remains widespread in rural and economically marginalized communities, where social norms and financial pressures often lead to early marriages. He also highlighted encouraging data from the Punjab MICS 2024, showing that the proportion of women aged 20–24 who were married before age 15 has declined from 3.3% in 2017–18 to 2.5%, while those married before age 18 have reduced from 14.6% to 13.8%.
Legal expert Ahmar Majeed explained that the ICT Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2025 sets the minimum legal age of marriage at 18 years for both boys and girls within the Islamabad Capital Territory, thereby ensuring gender parity. He added that the law prohibits Nikah registrars from solemnizing or registering any marriage where either party is underage and mandates mandatory age verification through CNICs issued by NADRA. In his view, this legislation is a critical step forward in harmonizing Pakistan’s domestic legal framework with its international commitments to protect children.
They urge all provincial assemblies to act without delay in introducing and passing similar laws—ensuring that no child, regardless of gender, geography, or socioeconomic status, is subjected to the injustice of early and forced marriage. The journey toward a safer, more equitable Pakistan begins with laws that protect its youngest citizens.
