Faisalabad, Wednesday, 12 November 2025: A training and awareness session was organized at the Model Union Council, Islam Nagar, Faisalabad, bringing together 30 Nikah Khawans, Marriage Registrars, and representatives from the local government to promote the prevention of early and child marriages. The session was facilitated by the Life for Guardian Foundation, Faisalabad, which is led by PODA Woman Leader Pameela Bhatti.
The activity was organized under the project “Reduce Early Marriages to Enhance Gender Equality,” supported by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Islamabad, and implemented by the Potohar Organization for Development Advocacy (PODA).
Former MPA Dr. Najma Afzal appreciated the initiative and emphasized the importance of community awareness to prevent early marriages. She said that early-age marriages are a major cause of high maternal and child mortality rates and lead to long-term health and social problems for women. She added that early marriages deprive girls of their right to education and a healthy future. Dr. Afzal called for increasing the minimum legal age of marriage for girls in Punjab from 16 to 18 years.
Sohail Yousaf, Project Officer at PODA, welcomed the participants and gave a brief overview of the organization’s work and the ongoing project activities across 41 districts of Punjab.
Advocate Khawaja Zahid Nasim highlighted the legal responsibilities of Nikah Khawans and Marriage Registrars under the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act 2015. He explained that verifying the age of the bride and groom before solemnizing marriage is a legal obligation. He also informed participants that violation of the law is a punishable offense for the Nikah Khawan, Registrar, witnesses, and even the guardian. The recent Lahore High Court judgment declaring the difference in marriageable age for boys and girls unconstitutional was also discussed.
Participants appreciated the session and expressed their commitment to spreading awareness in their communities. They pledged not to solemnize any Nikah for a bride or groom under 18 years of age without verifying legal age documents. Certificates were distributed among all participants at the end of the session.
