Causes and Consequences of Child Marriages in South Asia: Pakistan’s Perspective

The problem of Child Marriages is quite common and pervasivepractice and an instrumentof gender based violence against women and high population growth rate in South Asia including Pakistan. Though Child Marriages Restraint Act, 1929 (CMRA) got reformed in India and Bangladesh, but remained toothless and out-dated in Pakistan. In fact Pakistan had accepted UNCRC way back in 1990 buther law on child marriage has not been harmonized with it. Child marriages take place mostly in the pretext of poverty, illiteracy and gender inequality. The physical, social, psychological and economic consequences of child marriage are severeongirls,who are generally pulled out of primary/secondary education and more likely confront physical,emotional and sexual violence. Pakistan is in the midst of demographic transition and a big portion of the population comprises of children. This ‘youth bulge’ withoutample opportunities poses a threat to the social fabric, if not tackled appropriately. A serious attention is needed to transform this bulge into a productive future resource of the country only if this portion of the population is properly guided and educated in a healthy and constructive environment.