Punjab Assembly’s Standing Committee gives nods to Christian Marriage Bill 2026

On Wednesday, the Punjab Assembly's Standing Committee on Human Rights and Minorities Affairs unanimously approved the Christian Marriage Bill 2026. The bill aims to replace the century-old Christian Marriage Act 1872 with a modern legal framework governing marriages within the Christian community. The committee, chaired by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MPA Raheela Khadim Hussain, evaluated the bill introduced by MPA Philebos Christopher.

Christopher stated that the proposed legislation is designed to consolidate and modernize the existing legal framework for Christian marriages, strengthen consent protection, and provide greater legal clarity in matrimonial law matters. Under the new bill, the minimum marriageable age would be set at 18 years for both men and women in the Christian community, up from 16 years for boys and 13 years for girls under the current law.

The bill also requires both parties to a Christian marriage to identify as Christians, mandates the formal procedure for marriage, including a written notice and public announcement, and makes the registration of Christian marriages with the Union Council and National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) mandatory. The proposed legislation would allow marriages to take place in government-registered churches according to Christian rites and procedures, with designated pastors or marriage registrars empowered to conduct such ceremonies.

A Christian marriage would need to be performed in the presence of at least two witnesses and a formal record of the marriage would be maintained through marriage registers and prescribed forms. Unlike the current legal framework, the proposed law would not impose any restrictions on the day or time for holding a marriage ceremony.