LAHORE (MNN); Punjab Governor Saleem Haider Khan on Wednesday promulgated a new ordinance declaring child marriage a non-bailable offence and fixing 18 years as the minimum legal age of marriage for both men and women across the province.
Previously, under the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929, the minimum marriage age was 18 for males and 16 for females. The newly issued Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Ordinance 2026 abolishes this gender distinction and enforces a uniform age limit.
Under the ordinance, violators may face up to seven years in prison along with fines reaching Rs1 million. The law has come into immediate effect under Article 128(1) of the Constitution, as the Punjab Assembly is currently not in session.
The new legal framework prohibits nikah khawans from registering underage marriages. Marriage registrars found violating the law could be sentenced to up to one year in jail and fined Rs100,000.
Adults who contract marriage with a minor will face rigorous imprisonment ranging from two to three years, along with fines of up to Rs500,000. The ordinance further classifies cohabitation resulting from a child marriage as “child abuse,” punishable by five to seven years in prison and a minimum fine of Rs1 million.
Strict penalties have also been introduced for child trafficking connected to marriage. Guardians or individuals who facilitate, promote, or fail to prevent child marriages may face two to three years of rigorous imprisonment and fines up to Rs500,000.
All offences under the ordinance have been declared cognisable, non-bailable and non-compoundable. Cases will be tried exclusively in Courts of Session and must be decided within 90 days.
According to the statement of objectives, the ordinance aims to modernise child protection laws in Punjab, eliminate gender-based discrimination in marriage age, and strengthen safeguards against exploitation and abuse.
