Early marriages

The issue of early marriages has been one of the most highlighted issues in Pakistan. Pakistan is ranked 88 out of 144 countries where the custom of underage marriage is still practiced. Most of the NGOs and other Human Rights reports expose that women in only age of 12 to 13 are gotten married in the country’s rural areas.

It is extremely important for the country to take action against such practices. The government needs to thoroughly examine the root cause of early marriages. It is a proven fact that the majority of population of the country is living in poverty. A lot of parents marry their young girls because they cannot afford feeding their children. But, under-aged brides face the consequences of this harsh practice. They are not only unable to manage a family but excessive pressure affects their physical and mental health. Earlier this year, the move to increase the legal marriageable age from 16 to 18 years was rejected outright by the Council of Islamic Ideology. It is the responsibility of the government to take much-needed steps to set minimum age for marriage at 18years.

Wajahat Abro

Shikarpur