Around 60% girls in Sindh, Balochistan get married before 18: survey

ISLAMABAD: Almost 60 per cent of respondents in Sindh and Balochistan were married before turning 18, a shocking new survey revealed on Thursday, as parliamentarians, government officials, and civil society leaders gathered in Islamabad to pledge united action against child, early, and forced marriage (CEFM) — a practice they warned continues to strip millions of girls of education, health, and dignity.

The National Civil Society Dialogue and Dissemination Event on Ending Child, Early, and Forced Marriage was organised by Strengthening Participatory Organisation (SPO) with support from the US Department of State and Save the Children at the Marriott Hotel.

The dialogue featured two panel discussions moderated by Ms Farhat Ali Sheikh (Board Member, SPO) and Ms Munazza Ali (Project Manager, Save the Children). Among the key panellists were Dr Manizeh Bano (Executive Director, Sahil), Ms Afreen Kanwal (Child Protection Specialist, CEFM), Nisar Ahmed (Executive Director, Peace by Youth), Commissioner Salahuddin Norzai (Naseerabad), Ms Kiran Balouch (Chairperson, Balochistan Commission on Status of Women), Qamar-ud-Din Channa (Child Protection Authority), Dr Ghazala Ghalib Khan (Expert on Law and Sharia), Khalid Khan (Deputy Commissioner, Jaffarabad), youth champions Ms Aqsa Abdul Raheem and Arsalan Khan, Dr Nikhat Shakeel Khan (MNA & Convenor, Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights), and Dr Shazia Sobia Aslam (State Coordinator, Sindh, Parliamentary Caucus on Child).

Guest speakers included Ms Saima Agha (MPA & Parliamentary Secretary for Sports and Youth Affairs, Sindh), Muhammad Saleem Khosa (Director General, Balochistan Charity Registration Authority), and Ali Ansar Sidhu, President of the NGO for the Development of Special Persons, all of whom reaffirmed their commitment to advancing child protection efforts.

Khurram Gondal, Country Director of Save the Children, termed the initiative “a vital step in addressing one of Pakistan’s most pressing social challenges,” stressing that “true change requires more than policies; it demands consistency, commitment, and collective efforts from government, civil society, and local partners.” He praised the strong involvement of local NGOs and district governments and reaffirmed Save the Children’s long-term support.

Senator (retd) Javed Jabbar, Former Chairperson and Co-founder of SPO, hailed the effort as “a critical step toward empowering girls and safeguarding their future.” He invoked the legacy of Fatima Jinnah and Benazir Bhutto, noting they “would never have achieved such milestones had they been married off at a young age.” He added, “We must not wait for foreign funding to drive such efforts; the resolve to protect our children must come from within.”

Closing the event, Arifa Mazhar, Chief Executive of SPO, urged stakeholders to move beyond a project-based approach and build a sustained, community-driven movement. “This is not just a project, it is a collective mission,” she said, thanking partners, youth leaders, and Save the Children for their collaboration, and stressing that “this is not the end, but the beginning of a new chapter in the fight against child marriage.”

The gathering concluded with a joint pledge by government institutions, parliamentarians, and civil society organisations to strengthen legal protections, expand awareness campaigns, and ensure every child in Pakistan grows up safe, educated, and free from the threat of early marriage.