Islamabad: The National Women’s State Commission (NCSW), in collaboration with UNFPA and the Legal Aid Society, convened a consultation on Friday to address the pressing issue of child marriage in Pakistan.
When opening the session, Ume Laila Azhar, who is the president of NCSW, emphasized the urgent need to standardize the minimum age of marriage throughout Pakistan, highlighting the persistent gaps in the implementation despite the pioneering law of Sindh.
The representatives of the Government, the application of the law, civil society and community stakeholders shared ideas about the officer of the house of the station (Shos) and specialized training to handle cases of child marriage.
The participants also emphasized the reforms in the Nikah registry through digitalization and mandatory CNIC verification. Among other demands was to strengthen the role of the child protection authority of Sindh with resources and consciousness. Participants also emphasized government property to guarantee sustainability and real improvements.
Shaheena Sher Ali, who is the Minister Department of Development of Women Sindh, reaffirmed a strong government commitment, stating: “We have been personally taking cases of child marriage, abuse and kidnapping, and we know the first -hand challenges faced by the survivors.”
The consultation concluded with a so -called action set to strengthen the implementation of the CMRA, expand the consciousness of the community, involve religious leaders and guarantee the coordinated efforts of the government and civil society. The participants emphasized the use of equipment jackets to protect the rights of girls and guarantee a safer future for each child.
Posted in Dawn, September 6, 2025
