Pakistan: Punjab govt asked to set minimum age of marriage for girls at 18


A resolution has been submitted in the Punjab Assembly demanding the setting of 18 as the minimum age of marriage for girls. 


It was submitted jointly by women lawmakers including Sadia Sohail Rana, Sumaira Ahmed and Khadija Omar.

 

The women said that early marriages deprive girls of basic education, and prevent a healthy family. 


The resolution demanded that the age of marriage for girls should be increased from 16 years to 18 years.

 

Last year, the Senate passed a bill to amend the Child Marriage Restraint Bill, 1929, to set the minimum age to be able to marry as 18 years.

 

But Senator Sherry Rehman, who presented the bill, was met with heated remarks by senators belonging to Islamist parties.