The Punjab Assembly Standing Committee on Human Rights and Minority Affairs has unanimously approved the Christian Marriage Bill 2026, which proposes raising the minimum legal age of marriage for both men and women to 18 years.
The bill also seeks to make registration of Christian marriages mandatory with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and the relevant union councils.
The committee meeting was chaired by MPA Raheela Khadam Hussain, while bill mover Falbous Christopher presented the draft legislation.
The proposed law is aimed at repealing and replacing the Christian Marriage Act of 1872, which currently sets the minimum marriage age at 16 for males and 13 for females.
Christopher said increasing the minimum age to 18 for both genders would strengthen protection against child marriage and help ensure free consent.
Under the proposed framework, both parties must belong to the Christian faith. Ordained and religiously qualified pastors of churches registered with the Punjab government, as well as government-appointed marriage registrars, would be authorized to solemnize marriages according to Christian rites.
The bill also introduces several procedural requirements, including prior written notice, public announcement of the marriage, and the presence of at least two witnesses during the ceremony.
It further removes existing restrictions related to specific times or days for holding wedding ceremonies and requires marriage records to be maintained through standardized registers and prescribed official forms.
Christopher said the bill is intended to consolidate, clarify and modernize personal law for the Christian community while safeguarding individual rights and consent.
Following the committee’s approval, the bill will now be presented before the full Punjab Assembly for final enactment.
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