In Pakistan, child marriage is still a major problem that affects hundreds of thousands of children annually, mostly females. A historic change in the law in May 2025 promises to change the situation, even if the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) has frequently lagged behind progressive reform. Islamabad formally raised the marriage age to 18 for both sexes, made underage unions illegal, and made facilitators of such weddings illegal with the Child Marriage Restriction Act Amendment 2025. This article looks at the reform’s applicability, its cultural and legal ramifications, and the path to its implementation.
A holdover from British colonial legislation, the 1929 Child Marriage Restriction Act permitted girls to lawfully marry at age 16 and boys at age 18. These gender-biased clauses disregarded international norms and contemporary developmental science, which paved the way for widespread child marriage—29% of Pakistani girls are still married before turning 18—
Provincial assistance was provided by later modifications, such as the Sindh Child Marriage Restriction Act of 2013 and the Punjab 2015 law establishing uniform age limitations. However, until the 2025 revision, Islamabad, the capital region, lacked such a change.
A unanimous bill to raise the legal marriage age for both girls and boys to 18 was passed by Pakistan’s parliament in May 2025, making underage marriage illegal.
asia-news.com/pakistan. President Zardari immediately signed the measure, which was introduced as:
Facilitators may be imprisoned for up to seven years.
Statutory rape is the term used to describe sexual interactions in an underage marriage.
Registrars, parents, clergy, and spouses of the minors face financial fines.
This changes the law in Islamabad and signals a move away from antiquated and unfair standards and toward gender-neutral laws that prioritize the rights of children.
The judiciary in Islamabad has already expressed support:
The Islamabad High Court acknowledged marriage as a contract in Mumtaz Bibi vs. Qasim & others (2021) and decided that under the Contract Act, 1872, those under the age of 18 lack capacity, rendering such unions void ab initio.
All marriages under the age of 18 in ICT were prohibited by Justice Babar Sattar’s 2022 ruling, which held that such agreements were against the Penal Code, contract law, and constitutional rights.
In addition to breaking down legal inertia, these decisions brought Pakistan’s jurisprudence into line with gender equity concepts and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Why It Matters: Implications for the Law, Society, and Health
Equality under the Constitution: The gender gap in the previous law was against Article 25 (equality before the law). Legal precedents now support the need for impartial and equitable marriage legislation.
Contractual and Sexual Validity: Under Sections 375 and 377A of the Penal Code, sexual relations with minor spouses constitute statutory rape, and contracts with minors are null and void.
Health Outcomes: Premature marriage increases the risk of obstetric fistula, anemia, psychological trauma, and severe mother and newborn death.
Education & Empowerment: Marriage interferes with education, reducing females’ economic agency and keeping them in poverty cycles.
Minority Rights: Forced early marriages are especially common among religious minorities. The 2025 law in Islamabad contains protections that demand proof of age prior to solemnization.
Issues Beyond Law: Culture and Enforcement
Enacting legislation is essential. Equally important is implementation, which is now uneven:
The Lahore High Court noted numerous infractions and called for government action, criticizing the lax implementation of Punjab legislation. The licenses of registrars solemnizing child weddings have been revoked by the courts in Islamabad.
A robust infrastructure for enforcement needs:
NADRA and Nikkah registrars use official documentation to verify age in a proactive manner.
Police accountability: SHOs and DPOs are required to promptly file FIRs and respond to public grievances.
Raising awareness of the negative effects of early marriage among youth organizations, religious leaders, and rural communities.
Quick legal action: Family and criminal courts give priority to instances involving underage marriages.
Data monitoring: Organizations such as NCSR and NCSW ought to keep tabs on patterns, grievances, and convictions.
Voices from the Field: Advocates & Survivors
Senator Naseema Ehsan played a key role in promoting the reform after becoming married at the age of 13 and experiencing long-term health issues. She observed:
“I was fortunate… The majority of Pakistani women are not as fortunate. Not every child has a husband as supportive as mine.
This urgency is echoed by civil society voices. In Punjab and KP, advocacy organizations and non-governmental organizations have demanded awareness campaigns in addition to legislative actions, particularly in cases where the Council of Islamic Ideology’s (CII) attempts to thwart reform.
By requiring CNIC or medical documentation when age is disputed, Islamabad’s law reforms help safeguard vulnerable females in situations involving forced marriage, such as cases involving religious conversion.
Prospects for the Future: Reform to Transformation
Provincial Harmonization: The 18-year-old norm set by Islamabad must be followed by Punjab, KP, and Balochistan.
National legislation: Pakistan would have consistent age restrictions thanks to a federal modification to the 1929 Act.
Connecting ID systems: In order to stop fraud, NADRA has to connect marriage registries and birth data.
Investment in education: To prevent young marriages, increase the number of girls enrolled in school and offer conditional financial aid.
Religious discourse: Involve academics who are backed by the FSC and Sharia courts to connect legal change with Islamic jurisprudence.
A significant step has been taken to bring domestic law into compliance with international child rights norms with the passage of the Child Marriage Restriction Act Amendment 2025 in Slamabad. The capital has made a bold move by criminalizing facilitators and raising the marriage age to 18. However, passing legislation is just the first step.
Enforcing procedures, guaranteeing accountability, and altering deeply ingrained cultural norms are still implementation issues. Improper enforcement of this law could prolong violations of human rights and impede Pakistan’s advancement.
The time has come for the police, courts, schools, non-governmental organizations, religious leaders, and legislators to take comprehensive action. The reform in Islamabad is a moral need as well as a legal triumph. For the sake of its children’s future, health, and dignity, the country must now make a commitment to transforming this wake-up call into long-lasting reform.
