PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Commission on the Status of Women (KPCSW) has urged the Speaker of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly to spearhead efforts to build political consensus on increasing the minimum legal age of marriage to 18 years in the province, calling it a vital child protection and human rights measure.

The request follows a high-level Ministerial Briefing on Child Marriage held on July 22, jointly organized by KPCSW, UN Women, and Blue Veins. The event brought together lawmakers, government officials, legal experts, development partners, civil society representatives, and youth advocates to discuss legislative reforms aimed at ending child marriage in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Participants unanimously agreed that meaningful reform requires broad political support and recommended that the Speaker’s Office facilitate an inclusive dialogue among parliamentary parties and key stakeholders.

Acting on this recommendation, KPCSW Chairperson Sumera Shams formally wrote to Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, requesting a closed-door multi-stakeholder consultation within the Provincial Assembly. The proposed meeting would include parliamentary leaders, government departments, religious scholars, legal experts, development partners, civil society organizations, and youth representatives to discuss amendments and build consensus on child protection reforms.

The Commission noted that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is one of only two provinces where the minimum legal marriage age for girls remains 16 years, while Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan, and the Islamabad Capital Territory have already set 18 years as the minimum age for both girls and boys.

KPCSW said aligning provincial law with the national standard would strengthen child protection, improve girls’ access to education, reduce harmful practices, and reinforce Pakistan’s constitutional and international commitments to children’s rights.

The Commission also emphasized that the Speaker’s Office is well placed to provide a neutral parliamentary platform where lawmakers can review evidence, hear diverse viewpoints, and work toward a consensus-based legislative solution focused on the best interests of children.

“We appreciate the leadership of the Honourable Speaker and the support of the Secretary Provincial Assembly in facilitating dialogue on this important issue. Their leadership can help build the consensus needed to strengthen child protection and advance this important legislative reform,” said KPCSW Chairperson Sumera Shams.

The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to ending child marriage through evidence-based legal reforms, public awareness campaigns, and continued engagement with legislators, government institutions, development partners, religious scholars, civil society organizations, and local communities.

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