Child marriage has long been a critical issue in Pakistan, but recent findings reveal that the problem is even more alarming than previously understood.
A UNICEF report highlights that more than 19 million girls in the country have been married before the age of 18, while 4.8 million of them were wed before turning 15. These figures underscore the urgency for immediate and coordinated action to safeguard children’s rights.
Despite constitutional protections, Pakistan continues to face challenges due to the lack of uniformity in provincial marriage laws. Sindh and Islamabad have set the minimum marriage age for girls at 18, but other provinces still have legal loopholes that leave millions vulnerable to exploitation, early marriage, and the denial of education, health, and other fundamental rights.
The findings were shared during the National Civil Society Dialogue and Dissemination Event under the Child, Early, and Forced Marriage (CEFM) Project.
Organized by Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO) in partnership with the U.S. Department of State and Save the Children, the event gathered civil society leaders, parliamentarians, government officials, child protection experts, and youth representatives to discuss solutions to the crisis.
Khurram Gondal, Country Director of Save the Children, stressed that meaningful change requires more than policy—it demands sustained collective effort and commitment from both government and civil society.
Jameel Asghar Bhatti, CEFM Program Manager at SPO, presented findings from Sindh and Balochistan, revealing that nearly 60% of participants in those regions were married before the age of 18.
Senator (R) Javed Jabbar praised the initiative as a vital step toward empowering girls, noting that historical figures like Fatima Jinnah and Benazir Bhutto might never have achieved their milestones had they been married off early. He urged Pakistanis to take ownership of this issue, emphasizing that protecting children must be a national responsibility, not one dependent on foreign assistance.
