News Desk
LAHORE:
In a major legal development, the Punjab government has set 18 years as the minimum age of marriage for both boys and girls and declared child marriage a non-bailable offence under the newly promulgated Child Marriage Restraint Ordinance 2026.
The ordinance was issued under Article 128(1) of the Constitution by Punjab Governor Saleem Haider Khan while the Punjab Assembly was not in session. It was formally notified on February 12, 2026, by the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Department.
The new law replaces the earlier framework rooted in the Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929, which defined a child as under 18 years for boys and under 16 years for girls. While penalties existed under the previous law, enforcement remained weak and the age disparity drew criticism from rights groups.
Stronger Penal Provisions
Under the 2026 ordinance, contracting or solemnising a child marriage is now a cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable offence. Violators may face up to seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rs1 million.
Nikah registrars have been barred from registering marriages where either party is under 18. Those found in violation may face up to one year in jail and a fine of Rs100,000. An adult marrying a child may be sentenced to two to three years of rigorous imprisonment and fined up to Rs500,000.
The ordinance further states that cohabitation with a minor following an illegal marriage, with or without consent will be treated as child abuse, carrying penalties of five to seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs1 million. Provisions addressing trafficking linked to child marriages have also been included, prescribing strict punishment and financial penalties.
Guardians who promote or fail to prevent child marriage may face two to three years’ rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs500,000. All related cases will be tried in courts of session, with a requirement that proceedings be concluded within 90 days.