Punjab Assembly’s Standing Committee gives nods to Christian Marriage Bill 2026

The Punjab Assembly's Standing Committee on Human Rights and Minorities Affairs on Wednesday unanimously approved the Christian Marriage Bill 2026, proposing to repeal the century-old Christian Marriage Act 1872 and introduce a modern legal framework governing marriages among the Christian community.

The bill was earlier presented in the Punjab Assembly on April 27, but drew widespread criticism from Christian religious leaders and legal experts, who argued that wider reforms covering divorce, annulment, inheritance, child custody, and separation were also needed, along with proper consultation with the Church during the drafting process.

The meeting, chaired by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MPA Raheela Khadim Hussain, evaluated the bill moved by MPA Philebos Christopher.

Christopher told the committee that the proposed legislation was meant to consolidate and modernise the existing legal framework for Christian marriages, strengthen protection of consent and ensure greater legal clarity in matters relating to matrimonial law.

He said a key proposal in the bill was to fix the minimum marriageable age at 18 years for both men and women in the Christian community.

Read: Christian marriage bill faces opposition

According to the MPA, the minimum age for a Christian marriage is 16 years for a boy and 13 years for a girl under the existing law.

“The proposed law would also require both parties to a Christian marriage to identify as Christians,” he highlighted during the meeting.

As per details outlined by the minority lawmaker, the bill proposes a formal procedure for marriage, including written notice before the marriage and a public announcement of the intended marriage. It further seeks to make the registration of Christian marriages with the Union Council and the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) mandatory.

He lamented that registration of Christian marriages with the Union Council and NADRA was not possible under the existing law.

Under the proposed legislation that is now up for approval of the Punjab Assembly, marriages would be allowed to take place in all churches registered with the government of Punjab, according to Christian rites and procedures. It also proposes authorising religiously educated pastors of government-registered churches to solemnise Christian marriages.

“Designated pastors or marriage registrars appointed by the government would also be empowered to conduct marriages,” Christopher explained further.

“A Christian marriage would have to be solemnised in the presence of at least two witnesses, while a formal record of marriages would be maintained through marriage registers and prescribed forms.”

He also emphasised that unlike the existing legal framework, the proposed law would impose no restriction on the day or time for holding a marriage ceremony.