New Punjab ordinance makes underage marriage a criminal offense with prison terms, fines, and mandatory age requirement of 18 years
PUNJAB: The provincial assembly committee has approved the Punjab Child Marriage Ordinance 2026, establishing 18 years as the minimum legal age for marriage for both bride and groom and introducing strict criminal penalties for violations.
The ordinance, reviewed in a Local Government Standing Committee meeting chaired by Pir Ashraf Rasool, has already received approval from Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider. It is expected to move through the assembly process for final endorsement before becoming law.
Under the new framework, any marriage involving individuals under 18 years of age will be considered a punishable offense under criminal law. Those involved in registering such marriages, including nikah registrars, may face at least one year of imprisonment and a fine of up to 100,000 rupees.
Individuals found arranging or contracting underage marriages could face up to three years in prison and fines reaching 500,000 rupees. The ordinance also classifies child marriage in certain cases as a serious offense, carrying penalties of up to seven years imprisonment and fines of up to 1 million rupees. Attempting to facilitate or transport minors for marriage across provinces may result in similar prison terms and financial penalties.
Officials say parents, guardians, and registrars may also be held accountable in cases of negligence. The legislation is aimed at strengthening child protection mechanisms and aligning enforcement with criminal provisions to deter underage marriage practices across the province.
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