Punjab Assembly Committee Approves Bill to Reform Christian Marriage Laws

A standing committee in Pakistan’s Punjab Assembly has unanimously approved the Christian Marriage Bill 2026, a legislative effort to replace the colonial-era Christian Marriage Act of 1872. The proposed law aims to modernize marriage regulations for the Christian community by standardizing the minimum age for marriage at 18 for both men and women. Currently, existing provisions permit Christian males to marry at 16 and females at 13.

Beyond age requirements, the bill introduces mandatory registration of marriages with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and local union councils, a process currently lacking under the 1872 framework. The legislation requires couples to provide written notice of their intent to marry and mandates that unions be publicly announced in church for three consecutive weeks if solemnized by a minister. Christian Member of the Punjab Assembly Falbous Christopher, who introduced the bill, stated that the reforms are intended to protect against child marriage and ensure that unions are entered into with genuine consent. The bill now moves to the full Punjab Assembly for a final vote.