Legal Help · Published June 27, 2026
Child Marriage Laws in Pakistan and Punjab
The minimum legal age to marry in Pakistan depends entirely on which province you're in — and Punjab's rules changed significantly in early 2026. Here's the current picture, region by region.
Quick answer
Sindh (2013), Islamabad (2025), and Punjab (2026 Ordinance) all now set the minimum marriage age at 18 for both sexes, with serious criminal penalties for adults, parents, and marriage registrars who facilitate a child marriage. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan still apply the original 1929 federal standard — 18 for males, 16 for females — unless and until they reform it too.
The rules, region by region
Punjab — 18 for both, since a 2026 Ordinance
The Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Ordinance 2026, signed into law in February 2026, replaced the province's older 1929-based rules and set the minimum marriage age at 18 for both males and females, removing the previous gender-based gap. Child marriage under it is a non-bailable offence, and marriage registrars can themselves face penalties for registering one.
Sindh — 18 for both, since 2013
The Sindh Child Marriages Restraint Act 2013 was the first provincial law to break from the federal standard, setting 18 as the minimum age for both sexes and prescribing imprisonment for a male adult who contracts a child marriage, and for parents or guardians who permit or fail to prevent one.
Islamabad Capital Territory — 18 for both, since 2025
The Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Act 2025 set the federal capital's minimum age at 18 for both sexes, barred Nikah Registrars from registering underage marriages, and set penalties reaching up to seven years for those who facilitate or force a child marriage.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan — still 18 (male) / 16 (female)
These provinces have not yet replaced the original federal Child Marriage Restraint Act 1929, which sets 18 as the minimum age for males and 16 for females — a gap that has been directly challenged in court in other provinces and may be revisited through future provincial legislation.
What matters in practice
- Marriage age law in Pakistan is genuinely provincial and actively changing — don't assume a rule you've read applies nationwide, or that it's still current, without checking the specific province and date.
- In provinces with the reformed 18-for-both standard, Nikah Registrars themselves face penalties for registering an underage marriage — this is meant to stop the marriage at the registration stage, not just punish it after the fact.
- Penalties for contracting, facilitating, or failing to prevent a child marriage generally fall on the adult party, parents or guardians, and anyone who solemnizes or registers it — not on the child.
- If you're aware of a planned or occurring child marriage, reporting it promptly to local authorities or a lawyer matters more than trying to resolve it informally within the family.
What Wakeel.org can help with
Explaining the current minimum age and penalties for a specific province, in plain English or Urdu, and pointing you toward the right authority to raise a concern.
What it cannot do
It cannot file a report, intervene directly, or represent anyone — for anything urgent, contact local authorities or a lawyer immediately.
Frequently asked questions
What is the legal marriage age in Pakistan?
It depends on the province. Sindh (2013), Islamabad Capital Territory (2025), and Punjab (2026 Ordinance) all set the minimum at 18 for both males and females. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan currently still apply the original federal Child Marriage Restraint Act 1929, which sets 18 for males and 16 for females.
What changed with Punjab's 2026 child marriage law?
The Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Ordinance 2026, signed in February 2026, replaced the province's 1929-based rules and removed the gender gap by setting 18 as the minimum marriage age for both sexes, made child marriage a non-bailable offence, and penalized marriage registrars who register underage marriages.
What happens if someone marries a child in Pakistan?
In provinces with the reformed standard, this is a serious criminal offence — penalties can include several years of imprisonment and substantial fines for the adult party, and separate penalties for parents, guardians, or registrars who facilitate or fail to prevent it. In KP and Balochistan, the older 1929 Act's penalties apply, which are generally less severe.
Is a child marriage legally valid in Pakistan if it happens anyway?
This is a genuinely complex area where the criminal penalty for contracting or facilitating the marriage is distinct from the question of the marriage's underlying validity — and the answer can depend on the specific province and facts. This is worth discussing directly with a lawyer rather than assuming either way.
Can Wakeel.org explain child marriage law for my province?
Wakeel.org can explain the current minimum age and penalties for a specific province, in plain English or Urdu, and point you toward the right authority if you need to report a situation. It cannot file a report, intervene directly, or represent anyone — for anything urgent, contact local authorities or a lawyer immediately.
General educational information, not legal advice. This is recent, actively evolving legislation — verify the current status with a licensed advocate. See our full disclaimer.
Sources and further reading
- Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Ordinance, 2026 — Punjab Code (official)
- The Sindh Child Marriages Restraint Act, 2013 — Sindh Laws (official)
- Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Act, 2025 — Pakistan Code (Ministry of Law and Justice)
- The Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929 — Punjab Laws (official)
Need to understand the law in your province?
Ask Wakeel about the current minimum marriage age rules — then involve local authorities or a lawyer immediately for anything urgent.