An ordinance banning the marriage of boys and girls under 18 years of age came into effect in Punjab on Thursday.
Provincial Governor Sardar Saleem Haider promulgated the Punjab Child Marriage Ordinance, 2026, which makes it mandatory that the age of a bride and a bridegroom should be 18 years at the time of nikah.
The ordinance further says that action would be taken against the Nikah Khawan as well as those registering the marriage of the bride and bridegroom of less than 18 years of age under the Criminal Act. Such persons would be sentenced to at least one year in prison.
Besides that, a fine of Rs100,000 will also be slapped on them.
A man or a woman marrying an underage boy or girl will be sentenced to three years in prison, and a fine of Rs500,000 will also be slapped on him or her.
Marriage of boys and girls under 18 years of age will be deemed to be a rape, while its punishment will be seven years in prison and a fine of Rs1 million.
The ordinance states that those taking underage boys and girls from Punjab to any other province with the view to arrange their marriage will also be awarded a prison term of seven years.
Besides that, a fine of Rs1 million will be slapped on such persons.
As per the ordinance, the violators of the ordinance would be taken to court.
Parents and guardians of underage children will also be punished as they will be sentenced to two years in prison and a fine of Rs500,000 will also be slapped on them.
The administration will have special powers to stop child marriages.
The Punjab Assembly will approve the ordinance at its next sitting.
