Why are girls in South Punjab, Pakistan, still being married off before the age of 15?

September 21, 2025

In Pakistan, despite the passage of the Child Marriage Restraint Bill in May 2025 setting the legal marriage age at 18, child marriages remain prevalent due to weak enforcement, social pressures, and lack of proper age documentation. The law faces political opposition from groups like JUI-F, which claims the legislation contradicts Islamic teachings, while others like PPP celebrate it as progress. UNICEF reports 29 percent of Pakistani girls marry before 18, with rates increasing following climate disasters like the 2022 floods that caused an 18 percent surge in child marriages.

Who is affected

Girls under 18 in Pakistan, particularly in rural areas like South Punjab
Families in economically vulnerable situations, especially those affected by climate disasters
Communities with low birth registration rates (58% of children under five lack birth certificates)
Girls who drop out of school (87% in some rural districts by grade 10)
Young mothers facing health risks (2-5 times higher mortality for girls under 18)
Victims of domestic and sexual abuse (one in three child brides in South Asia)

What action is being taken

The Parliament of Pakistan has passed the Child Marriage Restraint Bill setting marriage age at 18
NADRA is implementing a digital birth and death registration system at hospitals nationwide
The Ehsaas Secondary Education Conditional Cash Transfer program provides stipends for girls' continued education
Some religious leaders are using their position to speak against child marriage in sermons
Teachers are personally intervening to keep girls in school
The Lahore High Court is enforcing oversight of nikah registrars to prevent underage marriages
PODA is conducting training programs for clerics to refuse nikah solemnization for anyone under 18

Why it matters

Child brides are 60% more likely to drop out of school, limiting their future opportunities
Girls under 18 face significantly higher risks of death from pregnancy-related causes
79% of Pakistani adolescent women lack menstrual health education, leaving them vulnerable to health complications
Pakistan ranks 137 out of 139 countries on gender equality according to the 2024 SDG Gender Index
Child marriages increase during climate disasters as families use them as economic survival strategies
Early marriage often leads to domestic violence and abuse, with limited legal recourse for victims
The issue represents a fundamental violation of children's rights and autonomy

What's next

Expansion of digital birth registration systems to marriage registration to block underage unions
Possible extension of the Ehsaas Secondary Education Conditional Cash Transfer program to Grade 12
Integration of reproductive health awareness in school curricula as advocated by reform groups
Continued civil society campaigns to end child marriage and fill gaps in legal enforcement
Training for nikah registrars to verify age documentation before performing marriages
Ongoing efforts to reconcile legal protections with cultural and religious practices

Read full article from source: Global Voices