Punjab province in Pakistan is preparing to reform the Christian family laws that have been in place for over 150 years. The proposed amendments aim to raise the minimum marriage age and introduce stricter registration requirements, which officials believe will provide clearer legal protections and benefits for the Christian minority community.
The draft legislation seeks to amend the Christian Marriage Act of 1872 by increasing the minimum age for marriage to 18 years for both males and females. This replaces the current law, which permits boys to marry at 16 and girls at 13. Additionally, the bill requires that both individuals entering into marriage must be Christian, whereas the existing law allows marriages where only one party is of the Christian faith.
Another significant change includes mandatory registration of Christian marriages with local Union Councils as well as the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA). Currently, such registration is not compulsory under the law.
The bill was introduced to the Punjab Assembly by Philbos Christopher, chairman of the standing committee on minority affairs, as a private member’s bill. This initiative is part of a larger effort to modernize a law that has remained largely unchanged since the colonial era and has been criticized for causing legal and administrative difficulties for Christian families.
Under the existing law, only certain churches are authorized to solemnize marriages, and weddings are restricted from taking place after 6 p.m. The proposed reforms would allow all registered churches in Punjab, along with ordained clergy trained in religious seminaries, to conduct Christian marriage ceremonies. Moreover, the restrictions on the timing of weddings would be lifted.
The draft also explicitly defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman, aligning with prevailing social and legal norms in Pakistan. Officials emphasize that these reforms aim to enhance the legal recognition of Christian marriages and ensure better documentation, addressing long-standing concerns about the absence of formal registration mechanisms.
This legislative update reflects a broader provincial initiative to revise colonial-era laws and strengthen protections and administrative support for minority communities in Punjab.
