Punjab Assembly panel approves Christian Marriage Bill that paves way for Nadra registration

The Punjab Assembly panel has unanimously approved the Christian Marriage Bill 2026, which aims to modernise the legal framework governing Christian marriages in Punjab, Pakistan. The bill, approved by the Standing Committee on Human Rights and Minority Affairs, proposes to raise the minimum legal age of marriage for both bride and groom to 18 years, and mandates mandatory official registration with the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) and local union councils.

If passed by the assembly, the bill would replace the colonial-era Christian Marriage Act of 1872, which currently sets the minimum age of marriage at 16 for males and just 13 for females. The bill's mover, Falbous Christopher, highlighted that the new legislation would also establish procedural safeguards, including a requirement for prior written notice, public announcements of marriage, and the presence of at least two witnesses during the ceremony. The bill will now be laid before the full house of the Punjab Assembly for final enactment.

Brief written by urgent.news from Dawn - Pakistan's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.