A delegation, led by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Deputy Representative Dr Gulnara Kadyrkulova, met Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan on Saturday and congratulated the assembly on the passage of the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act 2026, which sets the minimum legal age for marriage at 18 years for both girls and boys.
UNFPA delegation meets PA speaker, praises child marriage law passage
LAHORE, May 23 (APP): A delegation, led by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Deputy Representative Dr Gulnara Kadyrkulova, met Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan on Saturday and congratulated the assembly on the passage of the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act 2026, which sets the minimum legal age for marriage at 18 years for both girls and boys.
The delegation described the legislation as a landmark step towards protecting children’s rights, promoting women’s welfare, advancing gender equality and strengthening social justice.
During the meeting, both sides discussed the effective implementation of the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act 2026, the proposed Reproductive Health Bill, population management, governance reforms, and issues related to women and children’s health, education, social protection and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The participants also agreed to further strengthen cooperation under the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UNFPA and the Punjab Assembly.
Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan said the protection of the rights of women, children and youth was essential for building a progressive, balanced and responsible society. He reaffirmed the Punjab Assembly’s commitment to legislation aimed at public welfare, social justice and sustainable development.
He stressed the need for coordinated policymaking, institutional collaboration and parliamentary cooperation to address population and development challenges effectively. The speaker also welcomed continued partnership with UNFPA, saying greater collaboration with international organisations could help improve women’s health, education, empowerment and social protection.
Dr Gulnara Kadyrkulova appreciated the Punjab Assembly’s reform-oriented legislative initiatives, including the Women’s Caucus and Child Rights Caucus. She termed the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act 2026 a major milestone in promoting children’s rights and gender equality.
She said UNFPA would continue cooperation with the Punjab Assembly to support women and children’s welfare, public health and population awareness initiatives in Pakistan.
