A legislative committee in Pakistan’s Punjab province has unanimously approved a bill that would set the minimum age for Christian marriages at 18 for both partners, require official registration, and strengthen safeguards for free consent. 

The Punjab Assembly’s Standing Committee on Human Rights and Minority Affairs approved the Christian Marriage Bill 2026 on Sept. 30. The proposal still requires passage by the provincial assembly and completion of the legislative process before it can take effect. 

The bill seeks to replace the Christian Marriage Act of 1872, a law introduced during British colonial rule 154 years ago. Falbous Christopher, chairman of the Punjab Assembly’s Standing Committee on Human Rights and Minority Affairs, introduced the proposal as a private member’s bill in April. 

Christopher said the reform would modernize Christian marriage law and provide clearer protections for individual rights. He described provisions of the older law as permitting marriage at 16 for boys and 13 for girls. The proposed legislation would establish an equal minimum age of 18. 

Another key provision would require marriages to be registered with local union councils and recorded through the National Database and Registration Authority, known as NADRA. Union councils are local government bodies, while NADRA manages Pakistan’s national identity database.

The proposal sets out a process for written notice and public announcement before a marriage, alongside procedures for maintaining official marriage records. These provisions would give Christian couples a formal route for documenting their marriages within the civil registration system. 

Both partners would have to be Christian to marry under the proposed law. Qualified pastors serving churches registered with the Punjab government, as well as government-appointed marriage registrars, would be authorized to conduct ceremonies. The bill would also remove restrictions on the day or time of a wedding. 

Committee approval advances the bill toward consideration by the Punjab Assembly. Its final provisions and implementation requirements will depend on the remaining legislative process. The proposed reform offers hope for stronger protection of Christian marriage rights. Its age and consent safeguards could help prevent forced marriages, although their impact will depend on effective enforcement. 

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