The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has introduced amendments to civil service rules, placing restrictions on government employees marrying foreign nationals.
According to an official notification issued by the provincial Establishment Department, civil servants are now prohibited from entering into marriages with foreign citizens under the revised regulations.
The notification further stated that the new rule will apply to all government employees across the province.
However, an exception has been made, allowing such marriages if the foreign national is formally recognised and approved by the federal government.
In a separate development, an important step has been taken by the Standing Committee on Local Government of the Punjab Assembly (PA) against child marriage. They have approved the Punjab Marriage Ordinance 2026.
The Committee Chairman Pir Ashraf Rasool chaired the meeting.
During the meeting, it was informed that Sardar Saleem Haider, the Governor of Punjab had already approved the ordinance.
After the ordinance is approved by the committee, it will be presented in the house. Once it is passed there it will formally become the law.
The text of the ordinance states that there will be a complete ban on the marriage of individuals under the age of 18 in Punjab.
It has been made compulsory that both the groom and the bride are at least 18 years old at the time marriage is conducted.
Child marriage will now be a punishable offence. Anyone who is involved will have action taken against them under criminal law.
According to the ordinance if a marriage registrar or officiant registers an underage marriage he will face a minimum of one year imprisonment and a fine of Rs100,000.
Other than that if a person is found marrying a boy or a girl less than 18 years old that individual will be fined Rs500,000 and will be imprisoned for at least three years.
The marriage involving a person under 18 will also be treated as rape. It will be punishable with a fine of Rs1,000,000 and seven years imprisonment.
The same punishment will also be given if a child is taken out of Punjab to another province and is underage and married to someone.
Any individual or guardian who assists in child marriage will also face imprisonment for two years and a fine of Rs500,000.
Legal action will also be faced by marriage registrars.
Also read: What is the legal age for marriage in Pakistan now?
