By Asim Shahzad
LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly on Monday passed the Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2026 by a majority vote after a heated debate between treasury and opposition members, marking a significant legislative move aimed at curbing underage marriages in the province.
The assembly session, chaired by Speaker Punjab Assembly Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan, began 53 minutes late and witnessed lively exchanges on multiple issues before the child marriage bill took center stage.
Earlier during proceedings, Punjab Minerals Minister Sher Ali Gorchani accused the former PTI government of irregularities in the allotment of pink salt lands, alleging that thousands of acres were distributed to favored individuals through questionable procedures. He claimed amendments made during the previous government enabled the allotment of up to one lakh acres of pink salt land to select beneficiaries.
Opposition member Major (retd) Iqbal Khattak also raised concerns regarding what he described as undue harassment of citizens in his constituency under the pretext of security checks, saying people were facing unnecessary difficulties.
However, the primary focus of the session remained the amendment bill aimed at restraining child marriages. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle participated in a detailed discussion on the proposed legislation, presenting arguments in support as well as reservations over some clauses.
Punjab Information Minister Uzma Bukhari strongly supported the bill, describing early marriages as detrimental to the health, education and future of girls. She criticized the practice of marrying girls at a young age and stressed that girls should be given the opportunity to complete their education before entering marriage.
Some members voiced objections and suggested the bill should accommodate exceptional cases. Government member Zulfiqar Ali proposed that individuals seeking marriage before the age of 18 should be able to seek court permission, arguing the legislation should remain within social norms while protecting rights.
Following extensive debate, the house passed the Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2026 through a majority vote, signaling broad support for reforms aimed at protecting minors and discouraging underage unions.
The passage of the bill was seen as an important step toward strengthening child protection laws and promoting girls’ education and welfare in Punjab.
Following completion of legislative business, Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan adjourned the session until 2pm Tuesday.
