Pakistan, June 3 -- There have been several cases of early marriages brought forward to the legal courts, but nothing concrete had been done to minimize them until last week when the National Assembly of Pakistan passed the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Child Marriage Restraint Bill, 2024. This historic move has officially criminalized child marriages at least within the federal capital territory. This bill has not only regulated the laws for child marriages but also upholds children's rights, ensuring that our national laws are aligned with human rights standards.

The provisions of the bill have indicated that marrying off children before they turn 18 is now considered a serious criminal offense. The bill explicitly focuses on the f...