ISLAMABAD – The National Assembly on Friday passed nine bills, including a landmark piece of legislation criminalising child marriage within the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). The move marks a major step forward in child protection and legal reform in Pakistan.
The child marriage bill, tabled by MNA Sharmila Faruqui, was introduced by suspending standard rules and passed unanimously. The law prohibits the registration or solemnisation of any marriage where one or both parties are under 18. It also requires valid CNICs for age verification prior to marriage registration.
Violations under the new law carry up to three years of imprisonment and fines reaching Rs1 million, while any form of cohabitation stemming from such a marriage will be treated as child abuse, punishable by five to seven years in prison. Courts will also have authority to block planned child marriages and protect the identity of whistleblowers.
The bill seeks to repeal the Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929 in Islamabad and aligns with Pakistan’s international obligations, including UN Sustainable Development Goal 5, which aims to end child marriage by 2030.
In addition to the child marriage legislation, the National Assembly passed the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which had previously been stalled due to a lack of quorum. The bill, initially enacted through an ordinance, aims to adjust tax rates on government securities and rationalise taxation on banking companies.
Other bills passed during the session included:
- The Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2025
- The Extradition (Amendment) Bill, 2025
- The Naturalisation (Amendment) Bill, 2024
- The Anti-Dumping Duties (Amendment) Bill, 2025
- The Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (Amendment) Bill, 2024
- A bill concerning trade organisations, introduced by MNA Ali Musa Gilani
Only one bill—the Pakistan Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2024—was deferred.
During the session, MNA Amjad Ali Khan also highlighted delays in the construction of 12 bridges on Kalam Road (N-95) and the rehabilitation of flood-damaged infrastructure, despite a longstanding ADB-funded project and public commitments by the federal government.
The Assembly was adjourned until Monday.
