Under-18 Marriages Officially Banned in Pakistan; Jail and Fine Announced for Violation

President Asif Ali Zardari has signed the Child Marriage Restraint Bill, 2025, officially making it law. The legislation sets the minimum legal age for marriage at 18 for both boys and girls across Pakistan.

Under the new law, no Nikah Khuwan is allowed to perform a marriage ceremony if either person is underage. If they do, they could face up to one year in jail and a fine of Rs. 100,000.

Also, if an adult man marries a girl under 18, he could be given up to three years of rigorous imprisonment. The law also gives courts the power to act if they get any information about a possible underage marriage.

Courts can issue orders to stop such marriages and must keep the identity of the person who gave the information secret, while also making sure that person is protected.

The bill was first presented in the National Assembly by PPP MNA Sharmila Farooqui and was later brought to the Senate by Senator Sherry Rehman.

However, the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) opposed the bill, saying it goes against Islamic teachings. In an official statement, the council said that in its meeting, it had declared the Child Marriage Restraint Bill, introduced by Sharmila Farooqui in the National Assembly, as un-Islamic.

Despite CII’s objections, the law has now been passed and is in effect, representing a major legal move to end child marriage in Pakistan.