Child marriage is an unlawful and illegal practice; girls and boys are forcefully married before reaching a minimum legal age declared by the government. Underage marriage is seen as and considered to be a criminal practice worldwide as well as a human rights violation.
On the other hand, Federal Child Marriage Restraint Act 1929 and Punjab Child Marriage in Pakistan Restraint (Amendment) Act 2015 implied the age of marriage for girls to be 16 and boys, 18.
These laws make underage marriage a punishable act.
Unfortunately, these present laws haven’t brought any noticeable decline in cases of early marriage. Ever since these amendments have been enforced, there has been little action seen against child marriages in Pakistan.
