A legislative committee in Pakistan’s Punjab province has unanimously approved a bill that would set the minimum age for Christian marriages at 18 for both partners, require official registration, and strengthen safeguards for free consent. The Punjab Assembly’s Standing Committee on Human Rights and Minority Affairs approved the Christian Marriage Bill 2026 on Sept. 30. The proposal still requires passage by the provincial assembly and completion of the legislative process before it can take effect. The bill seeks to replace the Christian Marriage Act of 1872, a law introduced during British colonial rule 154 years ago.