News Desk
PR Lahore, Pakistan April 27, 2026:
The National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP) and the Pakistan Catholic Bishops Conference (PCBC) have welcomed the passage of the Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2026 by the Punjab Assembly, describing it as a significant step toward safeguarding children’s rights.
The legislation establishes 18 years as the minimum legal age for marriage for both boys and girls and categorizes underage marriage as a non-bailable offence. Advocates say the measure strengthens legal protections for minors and aligns with broader efforts to curb child marriage across the province.
In a joint statement, Bishop Samson Shukardin, President of the PCBC and Chairperson of the NCJP, along with Fr Bernard Emmanuel, National Director of the NCJP, and Naeem Yousaf Gill, Executive Director of the NCJP, described the bill as a “defining move” to protect childhood and uphold the dignity of future generations.
While welcoming the development, the NCJP leadership emphasized that legislation alone would not be sufficient to eliminate the longstanding practice of child marriage. They called for strict enforcement mechanisms and institutional accountability to ensure the law’s effectiveness.
According to the statement, local authorities, including union councils, Nikah registrars, and law enforcement agencies, must be held responsible for implementation, while courts should apply the law consistently without exception. The leadership stressed that no individual or institution should be allowed to bypass legal provisions under the pretext of cultural or traditional practices.
The NCJP also appealed to members of Pakistan’s Christian community to comply with the law and support efforts to end child marriage. It urged families to prioritize the well-being of children and avoid practices that treat minors as adults for the sake of social convention.
Reaffirming its broader mandate, the NCJP stated that it will continue to advocate for the protection and rights of children across Pakistan, irrespective of religion or background.