Old enough: K-P govt plans to set marriage age at 18

MPA tells consultative workshop attendees law will apply to both girls and boys.

PESHAWAR: The provincial government plans to table a bill in the next assembly session to ban the marriage of those under the age of 18.

At the ‘Understanding young girls and mothers’ issues’ consultative workshop on Wednesday, treasury bench MPA Ziaullah Bangash apprised the attendants of the government’s plans to place an age ban. The event had been organised by Rahnuma Family Planning Association and CARE International Pakistan.



He explained the minimum age of marriage for girls and boys will be set at 18 years. The proposed bill has already been discussed with various political parties’ leaders and a consensus has been reached, said Bangash. After the budget session, the government will table this bill in the assembly.

“If Saudi Arabia has a minimum-age requirement of 18 and we follow them in other practices, why not in this?” questioned the MPA.

Rahnuma Regional Director Gohar Zaman also briefed participants about maternal and newborn health, the sexual and reproductive health of marginalized adolescent girls and issues faced by young mothers. At the current stage of demographics in Pakistan, with the youth almost two third of the population, young girls and mothers have a pivotal role in determining the future of Pakistan, said Zaman.

There are numerous challenges when it comes to reproductive health, he explained. Whether it is trying to maintain or improve health, prevent future illness or living with disabilities, the problems are many. The regional director added pregnancy-related deaths are the leading cause of death in girls between the ages of 15 to 19.

Mothers in that age group have a greater chance of dying during pregnancy than women aged 20 to 24, said Zaman.

He recommended legislation be passed to increase the minimum age of marriage to 18 years and to ensure the compulsory registration of birth and marriage. Ensuring girls get equal access to education and are provided an enabling environment for employment is also essential, said Zaman.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19^th, 2014.