Punjab moves to overhaul 150-year-old Christian family law, proposes higher marriage age

LAHORE: Pakistan’s Punjab province is all set to overhaul 150-year-old Christian family laws, proposing to raise the minimum marriage age and introduce stricter requirements for registration, in a move officials say will bring legal clarity and relief to the minority community.

The proposed amendments to the Christian Marriage Act 1872 would raise the minimum marriage age to 18 years for both bride and groom, replacing current provisions that allow boys to marry at 16 and girls at 13.

Under the draft legislation, both parties to a marriage would be required to be Christian, whereas existing law allows for marriages where only one party belongs to the faith.

The bill also proposes mandatory registration of Christian marriages with local Union Councils and the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), a provision that is currently not required under the law.

The proposed changes were submitted to the Punjab Assembly by Philbos Christopher, chairman of the standing committee on minority affairs, as a private member’s bill, officials said.

The move comes as part of broader efforts to reform a law originally enacted in 1872, which has remained largely unchanged for more than 150 years and has been criticised for creating legal and administrative hurdles for Christian families.

Under the existing framework, marriages can only be solemnised by certain churches, and there are restrictions on the time of ceremonies, with weddings not permitted after 6 p.m.

The proposed law would allow all registered churches in Punjab, along with ordained clergy trained in religious seminaries, to conduct Christian marriage ceremonies, and would remove restrictions on the timing of weddings.

The draft legislation also seeks to define marriage specifically as a union between a man and a woman, aligning with existing social and legal norms in the country.

Officials said the reforms are intended to improve legal recognition of Christian marriages and ensure better documentation, while addressing long-standing concerns over the lack of formal registration mechanisms.

The proposed changes reflect a broader push by provincial authorities to update colonial-era laws and expand protections and administrative support for minority communities.