The prevalence of child marriages in certain parts of Pakistan, as exemplified by the recent reports of 45 underage girls being married off in Khan Muhammad Mallah village of Dadu in Sindh province, is utterly unacceptable. The directive issued by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to launch a thorough investigation into these incidents is a commendable move, but it's crucial for the authorities to take decisive action to address this deeply troubling issue.
The justifications provided by the parents for marrying off their daughters, such as saving them from poverty, underscore the urgent need to tackle the underlying socioeconomic challenges that fuel such practices. Poverty and limited opportunities should not serve as excuses for perpetuating child marriages, and it is imperative for the government to intervene with both carrot and stick in hand to address poverty and punish the men who are effectively buying young girls.
It is also worth noting that climate change is a major factor in the new wave of child marriages. Almost every recent case of child marriage has involved brides from families that were rendered penniless and homeless by floods and earthquakes. In many cases, the brides' parents genuinely felt they were doing the girls a favour.
And while there has been some progress in reducing child marriage, a lot still needs to be done to eliminate the practice and ensure that victims can be rehabilitated. Cultural taboos mean that the reality is that many victims of child marriage end up with nowhere to go if they leave their spouses. Their families fear being ostracised, and many girls are forced to quit school to get married, meaning they are unlikely to have acquired any skills that could get them gainful employment. Expanding skills training for victims would ensure that they do not end up in poverty, or worse. At the same time, it would also help local economies by making women workers available for small businesses and industries, thus allowing something good to come from something terrible.
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