LAHORE: The Government of Punjab has proposed significant amendments to Christian family laws, which include establishing 18 years as the minimum marriage age and requiring both partners to be Christian for a valid marriage.
The proposed changes seek to update the Christian Marriage Act of 1872, which has remained unchanged for more than 150 years. The existing law establishes 16 years as the minimum marriage age for boys and 13 years for girls.
The new proposal seeks to align the law with modern legal and social standards by raising the minimum age to 18 for both genders.
The draft bill has been prepared under the direction of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, which shows the provincial government’s dedication to supporting minority rights.
The Minority Affairs Committee Chairman Philobus Christopher has introduced the bill to the Punjab Assembly as his personal legislative proposal. The proposed amendments exist to solve various persistent problems that the Christian community has faced throughout history, especially those related to marriage registration and outdated legal provisions.
The proposed changes will help thousands of Christian families while providing them with updated legal protections because they will resolve existing legal uncertainties.
