Justice (retired) Irshad Qaiser, the Caretaker Provincial Minister for Social Welfare and Women’s Empowerment, attended the event as a special guest.
In her address, Minister Qaiser acknowledged the persistent challenge of child marriages and highlighted the caretaker government’s dedication to addressing this issue. She assured that the government is actively working on preventive measures and aims to present a comprehensive roadmap for legislating the minimum age to the next elected government.
Emphasizing the seriousness of the situation, Nelofar Bakhtiar, the Chairperson of NCSW, expressed gratitude to the participants and underscored the existing disparity in the age of marriage within the country.
She stressed that determining a minimum age for marriage is crucial, and the NCSW is actively seeking amendments to existing laws, involving the Islamic Ideological Council in the process.
Bakhtiar further highlighted the adverse impact of early marriages on girls’ education and health, characterizing it as a tragic phenomenon.
She pointed out the increasing prevalence of early marriages, especially among the female population, citing poverty as a contributing factor. The NCSW is dedicated to raising awareness about legislative changes aimed at curbing this concerning trend.
During the workshop, Chairperson NCSW presented a draft of the proposed bill to the Caretaker Provincial Minister, marking a crucial step towards legal reforms. Ejaz Khan, Chief Child Protection Unit, addressed the gathering, providing insights into the multifaceted approach the CPU adopts to combat early marriages.
He underscored the importance of setting a minimum age limit for marriage, drawing parallels with more than twenty Islamic countries.