The Pakistani president has signed a new bill into law which bans child marriage in Islamabad.
Fixing the minimum legal age of marriage in the capital region at 18, the ban represents a step forward for protecting girls from forced marriages, with Christian and Hindu girls particularly vulnerable to the practice.
The Child Marriage Restraint Bill tightens regulations surrounding marriage and states that men who marry underage girls could face anything from a fine up to three years in jail. Furthermore, it protects confidentiality for people who inform courts of upcoming child marriages, ensuring that more can be prevented before they take place.
