When a society chooses to protect its children, it chooses its future. Balochistan’s decision to set 18 years as the minimum legal age of marriage for both girls and boys is not merely a legislative adjustment; it is a decisive affirmation that childhood is not negotiable. In a country where harmful practices continue to limit girls’ education, health and life choices, this reform signals a shift toward dignity, protection and equal opportunity.
The urgency of this progress is unmistakable. In Pakistan, nearly one in three girls is married before the age of 18. Early marriage too often ends a girl’s education, exposes her to preventable health risks and curtails her ability to make informed decisions about her own life. Laws that protect girls from early marriage are therefore not symbolic; they are life-altering safeguards.
Balochistan’s reform also strengthens expectations that Punjab will follow suit. With Sindh, Balochistan and the Islamabad Capital Territory already setting 18 as the legal minimum age of marriage, Punjab now stands at a critical crossroads. Legal consistency across provinces is essential. A girl’s access to protection should not depend on where she is born. In a federal system marked by deep regional disparities, harmonized laws are a cornerstone of equal justice and national commitment to women’s rights.
At the heart of this issue lies a broader truth: the right of women and girls to live free from violence is not secondary, conditional or negotiable. It is a fundamental human right. Yet for millions of women in Pakistan, violence is not an isolated incident but a persistent reality, rooted in unequal power, silence and social acceptance. National data indicate that approximately one in three ever-married women has experienced physical, emotional or sexual violence in her lifetime. From domestic abuse to coercive control, violence continues to undermine women’s dignity, safety and full participation in society.
This vulnerability often begins early. Girls who are married before adulthood face a significantly higher risk of physical, emotional and sexual violence within marriage. Evidence consistently shows that child marriage increases exposure to intimate partner violence. With limited education, economic dependence and weak access to support systems, many women remain trapped in abusive relationships, their suffering concealed behind notions of family honour and the false divide between public and private harm.
Legal reforms that delay marriage and strengthen women’s autonomy are therefore critical to breaking this cycle. When girls are able to complete their education, enter adulthood with agency and form relationships as equals, the risk of violence diminishes. Each additional year of schooling enhances decision-making power, economic prospects and resistance to abuse. However, legislation alone is not sufficient. Laws must be matched with effective implementation, survivor-centered services and accountability mechanisms that translate rights into lived protection.
Ending gender-based violence in Pakistan demands more than condemnation. It requires structural change: recognizing violence against women as a public concern, investing in prevention, strengthening enforcement of protection laws and creating environments where survivors can seek justice without fear or stigma.
Protecting girls from early marriage is a necessary first step. Ensuring that women can live free from violence is the responsibility that must follow, one that Pakistan can no longer afford to delay.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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