The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has passed the Kalash Marriage Bill 2026, establishing a legal framework for marriages within the Kalash community. The legislation introduces clear legal requirements while recognising the community’s customs and traditions.
Officials said the new law aims to regulate marriages and safeguard the rights of community members. Consequently, all Kalash marriages must now follow the prescribed legal procedures.
New Law Defines Marriage And Registration Rules
Under the legislation, a marriage will only be valid with the free consent of both individuals. Additionally, both parties must be mentally fit and at least 18 years old.
The law also prohibits marriages between first cousins within the Kalash community. Furthermore, it requires every marriage to be registered through a designated local registrar.
Government offices will maintain official records of marriages, divorces and marriage dissolutions. Moreover, the law prescribes penalties for submitting false information or failing to register a marriage.
Bill Preserves Kalash Customs And Traditions
According to the legislation, divorce, khula and marriage dissolution will follow Kalash customs and traditions. Similarly, inheritance rights after a husband’s death will be determined under the community’s traditional system.
Earlier, UNESCO placed the Kalash valleys in Chitral on its World Heritage Tentative List. The organisation described the Kalasha Cultural Landscape as a well-preserved and continuously inhabited high-mountain cultural environment.
The landscape includes the Bumburet, Rumbur and Birir valleys in the Hindu Kush range. Their geographical isolation has helped preserve the Kalasha community’s distinct cultural identity for centuries.
UNESCO also noted that the region remains a living cultural landscape where traditions continue through daily life, agriculture and community governance. Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi described the legislation as a proud moment for Pakistan.
