Children in Balochistan, southwest Pakistan, are now legally protected from early marriage after the province passed a law raising the legal age for marriage to 18. The legislation follows advocacy and campaigning by Save the Children and other child rights organisations, aiming to curb widespread child marriage and its harmful consequences.
A 2024 Save the Children survey revealed that nearly two-thirds of marriages in Balochistan occurred before the age of 18, with 40% before 16. One in four girls had their first child before 16, and 60% gave birth before 18. Community attitudes often view early marriage as a way to protect family honour or reduce economic burdens.
Child marriage severely affects girls’ rights, education, health, safety, and participation. Girls married young are less likely to remain in school, face higher risks of physical and sexual violence, and experience complications during pregnancy and childbirth.
Before the new law, the legal age for marriage in Balochistan was 18 for boys and 16 for girls. The legislation aligns Balochistan with Sindh province and Islamabad Capital Territory, which have also outlawed child marriage, though other provinces like Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa still allow marriage at 16 for girls.
Save the Children played a central role in advocating for the law, engaging local civil society groups, forming provincial advocacy forums, and amplifying youth voices to ensure consistent pressure on policymakers. Khuram Gondal, Country Director of Save the Children Pakistan, highlighted the importance of enforcement and collective efforts by government, civil society, and partners to address the root causes of early marriage.
Since 1979, Save the Children has reached over 14 million beneficiaries across Pakistan through programmes in health, nutrition, education, child protection, livelihoods, and humanitarian response, continuing its work to safeguard children’s rights nationwide.
