Age & Marriage

What is the legal minimum age for marriage in different provinces of Pakistan?

Last reviewed:

Answer

Direct answer

As of 30 August 2026, the minimum marriage age is 18 for both women and men in Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Islamabad Capital Territory. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has not enacted the same across-the-board provincial reform and the inherited Child Marriage Restraint Act framework continues to distinguish between 16 for females and 18 for males. Because this area has changed quickly, the law applicable to the place of marriage should be confirmed with the local Union Council before any nikah.

18 yearsminimum for both sexes in Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and ICT
Evidence

Sources used

Legal / Official Source · 2026

Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act, 2026

Local Government and Community Development Department, Government of Punjab

Official Punjab legislation listing; the 2026 Act sets 18 as the minimum marriage age for both sexes.View source
Legal / Official Source · 2014

Sindh Child Marriages Restraint Act, 2013

Sindh Code, Government of Sindh

Official Sindh law setting 18 as the minimum marriage age for both sexes.View source
Legal / Official Source · 2025

Balochistan Child Marriages Restraint Act, 2025

Balochistan Code, Government of Balochistan

Official Balochistan law setting 18 as the minimum marriage age for both sexes.View source
Useful next steps

Continue from this answer

Keep reading

Other Knowledge questions

Marriage Data & DemographicsWhat does Weddme’s 2026 matrimonial profile data show?

Weddme’s 2026 study analyzed 5,427 eligible profiles captured on 8 August 2026. Men’s profiles formed 85.1% of the cohort, 26–30 was the largest age group, and 69.2% report...

Read answerFamily & SocietyWhat did Weddme’s first 2026 report find about women’s and men’s profile management?

In the 8 August snapshot, 419 of 810 women’s profiles were family-managed, or 51.7%, compared with 525 of 4,617 men’s profiles, or 11.4%. This was the first Weddme report t...

Read answerFamily & SocietyWhat is a family-managed profile on Weddme?

A family-managed profile is one where the recorded manager is someone other than the person represented in the matrimonial profile. The manager may be a mother, father, sis...

Read answerMarriage Data & DemographicsCan Weddme’s family-management data represent Pakistan as a whole?

Weddme members were not selected through a nationally representative sampling design. The cohort reflects people who knew about the service, had internet access, registered...

Read answerAge & MarriageWhat partner ages did women aged 26–30 include on Weddme?

Among 199 women aged 26–30 who had saved age preferences, 70.9% included an older age band and 66.3% included their own 26–30 band. Because the field allowed more than one...

Read answerAge & MarriageWhat partner ages did men aged 26–30 include on Weddme?

Among 1,045 men aged 26–30 with saved age preferences, 74.9% included a younger age band and 61.4% included their own 26–30 band. Those percentages are not alternatives bec...

Read answer
More topics

Browse other Knowledge topics

Move across related topics when a question needs practical, family, document, safety, regional or research context.

Rishta Process

Practical answers about proposals, first conversations, family meetings and respectful next steps.

10 answersCompatibility & Life Partner Choice

Questions to help people discuss values, expectations, work, finances, residence and future plans.

10 answersFamily & Society

Family participation, parent and sibling roles, social expectations and respectful decision-making.

76 answersSafety & Verification

Practical guidance on identity checks, safe communication, fraud signals and verification limits.

46 answersNikah, Law & Documents

Carefully scoped answers about Nikah Nama, marriage certificates, official records and where to verify rules.

10 answersWedding Customs & Events

Human answers about nikah, rukhsati, walima, engagement, budgets, guest lists and regional customs.

9 answersDigital Matrimony

Online rishta search, privacy, structured profiles, communication stages and family-assisted accounts.

26 answersOverseas Pakistanis & Marriage

Marriage and matrimonial questions involving overseas Pakistanis, answered only where evidence supports them.

30 answersEducation & Matrimony

Education in profiles, partner preferences, literacy context and how not to overread education data.

27 answersCities & Regions

City, province and regional context where enough credible evidence exists to answer responsibly.

24 answersLife Partner Preferences

How saved partner preferences, filters and family criteria should be understood without overclaiming.

30 answersMarriage Data & Demographics

Population, survey and platform-data context for marriage questions across Pakistan.

32 answersMarriage Trends

Short explanations of measured matrimonial trends and the limits of trend claims.

25 answers