Raising the bar: Rawalpindi advocates for higher marriage age to empower girls
In a significant gathering at the District Bar Association in Rawalpindi, stakeholders rallied in support of amending the legal marriage age for girls in Punjab to 18 years. This event, part of the “Reduce Early Marriages to Enhance Gender Equality” project led by PODA and funded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy, Islamabad, drew an enthusiastic response from diverse community sectors.
The initiative stretches across 41 districts of Punjab, advocating for legal changes through collaboration with government bodies and community influencers. During the session held in Sardar Ishaq Khan Hall, the attendees endorsed the move as a stride towards protecting young girls and enriching their lives with better education and career opportunities.
Nargis Faiz Malik, a Member of the Provincial Assembly, graced the event and pledged to forward the session’s outcomes to the assembly, showing robust support for the legal amendment. “It’s crucial that we support our young girls to grow into empowered women who can contribute equally to the progress of our country,” Malik stated.
The session also highlighted the roles of marriage officers, stressing the importance of strengthening their authority to help eradicate child marriages. Khawaja Zahid Nasim, PODA’s legal advisor, and Hifza Bukhari, former finance secretary of the Supreme Court Bar Association, emphasized the favorable conditions for the government to lead this crucial amendment.
Additionally, the gathering recommended mandating national IDs for marriage and adopting standard practices for online marriage registration, aiming to decrease child marriages significantly.
In recognition of their support, PODA awarded shields of honor to Nargis Faiz Malik and the District Bar Association, with young lawyers in attendance to celebrate the occasion.
This collaborative effort marks a pivotal moment in the fight against child marriage in Pakistan, fostering a legislative environment where girls can aspire to brighter futures free from the bonds of early marriage.