Child marriage is a tradition in several cultures in our country. It refers to the custom of marrying off a young girl to settle a dispute between families. This custom has led to severe physical consequences, including childbirth complications and health issues. According to a Unicef report, about 37 percent of women in Pakistan are married before the age of 18.
A severe lack of awareness and low literacy levels are two of the main reasons why such a custom has managed to persist in our society . Although we have laws in place to counter this tradition, we have yet to implement them effectively. The state should take corrective measures to discourage this act.
Dilawar Hussain
Peshawar