Child Marriages in Pakistan: Causes, Consequences and a Way Forward

This qualitative study aims to comprehend the problem of child marriages, its causes and consequences and legislation made on federal and provincial level in Pakistan. Child marriages mostly occur in poor, economically deprived communities. It is observed that the driving factors of child marriage vary from area to area, especially in remote areas of Pakistan the situation is worsened and primitive forces are responsible for driving child marriages include poverty, lack of education, few job opportunities for girls, traditions, customs, and insecurity/danger especially, in a conflicting place, and fear of dishonor. Child marriage directly affects the girls’ health and education more specifically. This study recommends that there must be a system to provide proper education and orientation to remove this hazardous practice from society. Law enforcement agency should play an active role and govt. institutions, Child protection bureau and women police, should work in true sense of spirit to eliminate child marriages in Pakistan