Islamabad.
In view of the increasing trend of child marriage and its serious consequences, the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), along with women’s rights organisations, has launched a comprehensive campaign across the country calling for a ban on marriage before the age of 18.
Addressing a press conference, NCSW Chairperson Ume Laila Azhar applauded the ICT Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2025. She said that after Sindh, it is a welcome move that the minimum age for marriage of girls in Islamabad is 18 years.
“We demand that the minimum age for marriage be set at 18 years across the country. We have to think about the future of our girls and boys and take steps for their education and health. We have to stop the exploitation of our children, especially girls. This is not just a matter of marriage, it is a matter of raising future generations. We will launch a nationwide campaign for this bill so that there is standard uniformity in the law regarding this across Pakistan.” she said. A renowned gender expert, Fehmida Iqbal, presented relevant statistics, showing that 18 per cent of girls in Pakistan are married before the age of 18, while 54 per cent of young girls become pregnant before the age of 18, which proves to be a significant reason for the threat to their lives and the lives of the newborn.
News published in the Express Tribune on 19th June 2025
