Although international norms accept 18 as the minimum age for both genders, marriage in pakistan is only lawful for males who are 18 years old, and for girls who are 16 years old. Although the marriage age for boys and girls in Sindh province was raised to 18 in 2013, this change was not implemented nationally.
One of the highest rates of child marriage in the world occurs in Pakistan. According to reports, thirty percent or more of Pakistani females are married before they turn eighteen. According to UNICEF figures, 18.9 million Pakistani females marry before turning 18 and 4.6 million before becoming 16.
Cultural, traditional, and societal standards play a major role in the issue, especially in areas like khyber pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit Baltistan. To discourage child weddings, activists have pushed the government to enact stringent laws and severe penalties.
A recent event in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Peshawar brings attention to this persistent problem. A 72-year-old man was taken into custody by police after he tried to wed a 12-year-old girl. Before the nikkah (marriage contract) could be signed, the authorities stepped in. Alam Syed, the girl's father, had consented to sell his daughter for 500,000 Pakistani rupees to Habib Khan, the old groom. Alam Syed was able to flee while Habib Khan was taken into custody.
One of the highest rates of child marriage in the world occurs in Pakistan. According to reports, thirty percent or more of Pakistani females are married before they turn eighteen. According to UNICEF figures, 18.9 million Pakistani females marry before turning 18 and 4.6 million before becoming 16.
Cultural, traditional, and societal standards play a major role in the issue, especially in areas like khyber pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit Baltistan. To discourage child weddings, activists have pushed the government to enact stringent laws and severe penalties.
A recent event in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Peshawar brings attention to this persistent problem. A 72-year-old man was taken into custody by police after he tried to wed a 12-year-old girl. Before the nikkah (marriage contract) could be signed, the authorities stepped in. Alam Syed, the girl's father, had consented to sell his daughter for 500,000 Pakistani rupees to Habib Khan, the old groom. Alam Syed was able to flee while Habib Khan was taken into custody.
click and follow Indiaherald WhatsApp channel