According to a UNICEF report, around 18% of girls in Pakistan are married before the age of 18, and many of these marriages occur without their consent. Child marriage remains a significant issue in various parts of the world, including some countries in South Asia and the Middle East. This practice violates fundamental human rights and disproportionately affects girls. While cultural and religious traditions play a role in some communities, it's important to note that many countries, including those with Muslim majorities, have laws setting the minimum age of marriage at 18. Many countries, including Pakistan, have made progress in recent years by enacting laws to protect women's rights and combat child marriage, though challenges in implementation remain. UN WOMEN UNICEF reports that Pakistan is home to nearly 19 million child brides, highlighting the extent of the problem.

Child marriage has far-reaching consequences that, although often overlooked, significantly affect various aspects of society, including the economy, fertility and population growth, education lapse, and workforce participation.

Economic impact:

Child marriage remains a persistent global issue with far-reaching economic consequences. This practice not only impacts individuals and families but also significantly hinders national and global economic growth. Girls are frequently considered a financial burden for families as they are confined in their homes rather than being allowed in the workforce. Poverty exacerbates child marriage as some families resort to early marriage as a misguided attempt to reduce economic strain. 

The educational impact of child marriage:

 When a girl gets married, she is often forced to drop out of school, ending her proper education. Often child marriage results in early pregnancy where either she has to freeze her studies for the time being or permanently leave school. These young brides often have to sacrifice their dreams and future aspirations for their new roles as wives and mothers. The same goes for boys, as they find themselves stuck in a position where they have to provide for their family, forcing them to drop out of school and start a job. This creates a cycle where uneducated parents are more likely to continue the tradition of early marriage, perpetuating the problem across generations. Breaking this cycle is crucial for improving education rates and opening up opportunities for young people.

Fertility and population growth:

The practice of child marriage is most common in poor and undereducated parts of society where the financial conditions are common. These child marriages often result in teen pregnancy placing an overwhelming burden on young parents who are ill-equipped to care for a child. Despite the challenges, there's often a cultural belief that "the more children the merrier", leading to rapid population growth. This is particularly problematic in developing countries like Pakistan, where the increasing population strains limited resources. As a result, people struggle to access even basic necessities.

Women as a commodity:

In many Pakistani families, especially in rural areas of South Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Balochistan, harmful practices related to child marriage persist. One such custom is "Pait likkhi," where girls are betrothed or married off before birth or at a very young age. The main reason for this is the strengthening of social and economic ties between families mainly influenced by poverty and traditional customs. Unfortunately, in some parts of Pakistan, girls are often viewed as commodities. They may be subjected to practices like "Swara," where girls are married off to resolve disputes or settle debts, often with the approval of local community elders. Another common practice is "watta satta," an agreement between families to exchange female members through marriage. A 2018 study revealed that some parents marry off their daughters at a young age to save the dowry amount because with the age of the girl, the price of the dowry increases. 

Law and order for child marriage in Pakistan:

 Under the Punjab Marriage Restraint Act, of 2015, the penalties for child marriage facilitators were increased, though the legal age remains 16 for girls. The Sindh province is an exception, where the minimum age of marriage for both girls and boys is 18 years, as set by the Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act. Although other provinces have proposed raising the minimum age to 18 for girls. In Punjab, Offenders can face up to six months in prison and fines of up to 50,000 Pakistani Rupees (about 200 USD). Despite increased penalties, the effectiveness is hampered by social resistance and limited enforcement.

Personal observation of child marriage: 

I am a resident of a tribal area in KPK, kotha. I, myself am a witness to a child marriage which has inspired me to highlight this important topic. We had a neighbor who was 15 years old and was extraordinary in studies and had even won the district-level math Olympiad. She was forced to marry at a young age as a commodity in exchange for loan forgiveness. She is now 24 years old and has two kids. She has been working day and night as a housewife and has quit her studies. I went to visit her this summer and still can't get this particular thing she said out of my head: “I had always wished to be a police officer and eradicate crime from the surface of the world but my family and my house have me chained holding me back from chasing my dreams”. Her words are enough to just give a glimpse of how child marriage can completely change the path of someone's life.

Changing attitudes towards child marriage:

Deeply entrenched patriarchal norms continue to drive child marriage. Girls are raised to show an attitude of care and service towards men. There is the belief that the younger the girl, the easier it is to condition her to obey and serve her husband and in-laws. The first and foremost action that a normal citizen can take to eradicate such an awful practice from society is spreading awareness about child marriage and how it is destroying the lives of children. Spreading awareness regarding health risks and economic par can help deeply in banishing such norms from our lives. The government can have a big impact on its people as they can implement strict penalties on the imposer of such illegal marriages which can serve as an example for other offenders.

I'm hoping that by publishing this article I have helped raise awareness among the VoiceBox community about this significant problem.