PESHAWAR — The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet has approved the Kalash Marriage Bill, establishing formal legal recognition of marriage and family laws for the indigenous Kalash community for the first time in Pakistan’s legislative history.

The legislation creates a structured marriage registration system aligned with Kalash customs and provides legal protection for marital rights within the community. Officials and rights advocates say the move addresses a longstanding gap in family law affecting the Kalash people, who reside in the valleys of Bumburet, Rumbur and Birir in Chitral.

The bill was approved by the provincial cabinet under the chief minister and was initiated by Wazir Zada, a representative of the Kalash community. Civil society organisations, including Blue Veins and Faith Friends, contributed to drafting efforts with support from the National Commission for Human Rights.

The Kalash are a small indigenous community known for preserving a distinct Indo-Aryan cultural heritage, language and religious traditions. Until now, there was no formal legal framework specifically recognising their marriage practices, which created challenges related to documentation, inheritance and related civil matters.

Qamar Naseem, Program Manager at Blue Veins and a drafter of the bill, said the legislation formally acknowledges and protects the community’s personal laws while respecting their cultural identity. He stated that the law strengthens constitutional guarantees related to minority rights and equality before the law.

Rizwan, a representative of the National Commission for Human Rights, said the measure provides legal recognition of Kalash marriages and ensures access to official documentation and legal safeguards, while maintaining cultural autonomy.

The approval of the Kalash Marriage Bill marks a legislative step toward formal recognition of indigenous personal laws within Pakistan’s legal framework. Further procedural steps are expected before the law is fully implemented.