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Lahore : According to Dawn report, the Child Protection Welfare Bureau (CPWB) has presented the Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2024-25 before the Punjab government and it aims to raise the minimum age of marriage for girls to 18 years.
CPWB Chairperson Sara Ahmed has stressed on the urgent need to tackle the harmful practice of child marriage to Punjab Home Secretary Noorul Amin Mengal. Ahmed, citing the Pakistan Demographic Health Survey 2017-18, revealed that in Punjab, 18 percent of women aged 20 to 24 were married before the age of 18, while 2 percent were married before the age of 15. It was done before.
As both a Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) and CPWB chairperson, Sara Ahmed has been rallying the support of the Home Department to take forward this important legislative effort, reports Dawn.
The proposed Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Bill, 2024 acts as a modernization of the ancient Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929. Its primary objective is to protect the health, safety and overall well-being of young girls affected by child marriage within the province. ,
The Bill is in line with the 18th Amendment and is tailored to the specific needs of Punjab. Its main objective is to protect the rights and welfare of children, especially girls, to ensure their ability to thrive in a family environment free from discrimination and violence.
Ahmed has stressed for the early introduction of the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Bill, 2024 in the provincial assembly, which will set a precedent for the advancement of child welfare, rights equality and public health.
According to the Bill, marriage can be solemnized and registered only on presentation of Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC). In cases where the age of either party is disputed, the court will ascertain the age through birth certificate, educational record, or other relevant document. If such evidence is lacking, a medical examination report will be used to determine the age.
Additionally, the Bill proposes stringent penalties for adults who engage in child marriages, facilitate such unions, or parents and guardians involved in arranging child marriages. Offenders may face rigorous imprisonment of up to two years and/or a fine of up to PRK 20,00,000.
Punjab Home Department Secretary Mengal told Dawn that the department has called a meeting to discuss the submission of the draft law. As reported by Dawn, he confirmed that the proposed Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2024-25 has been sent to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and the Cabinet for consideration.