Govt asked to curb child marriage practice

LAHORE: The Punjab government has been urged to adopt the ICT Child Marriage Restraint Act 2025, which sets 18 as the minimum legal age for girls to marry.

The demand came during a consultation organised by the Potohar Organisation for Development Advocacy (PODA) in collaboration with the Women Development Department (WDD) Punjab here on Friday. The participants stressed that violations under the proposed Punjab law must be cognizable, non-compoundable, and non-bailable to ensure effective enforcement.

Parliamentary Secretary for WDD Ms Saadia Temur chaired the session and reiterated the government’s commitment to gender equality under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s leadership. She announced the launch of a new Women Development Centre by the end of June.

PODA Executive Director Sameena Nazir urged that matriculation of girls be made a constitutional requirement to help prevent early marriages. The event was part of PODA’s Norwegian Embassy-supported project to reduce child marriages and promote gender equality in Punjab.