Punjab bans under 18 marriages

The Punjab government has passed a law through the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Ordinance 2026, making it illegal to marry anyone under 18 years of age across the province.

The law was passed by the provincial governor on February 11, setting 18 as the minimum legal marriage age for both males and females. Moreover, the law eliminates earlier gender-based divisions and has been put into immediate effect. 

Under the new act, child marriage has been declared a non-bailable offence, and all police stations have been directed to file FIR against violators. Violators may face imprisonment and heavy fines. 

Furthermore, marriage registrars are barred from registering underage marriages, if they do so, they may face cancellation of license, heavy fine and even imprisonment. 

Guardians or relatives who promote or fail to prevent such marriages can also be punished with prison time and fines amounting to Rs 0.5 million. Such cases will be tried by additional district and sessions judges and will be non-bailable. 

However, Islamic scholars argue the law conflicts with religious interpretations and may be challenged in the Shariat court.