Provincial Minister for Women’s Development, Shahina Sher Ali, emphasized the importance of adding National Identity Card (NIC) entries in marriage contracts to prevent child marriages. Speaking at a seminar organized by the Civil Society Support Program (CSSP), the provincial minister shared that the Department for Women’s Development is actively working on including NIC details in marriage documentation. “With NIC registration in marriage contracts, it will be much easier to enforce the minimum marriage age of 18, preventing child marriages,” she stated.
Shahina highlighted that Sindh is leading the way among provinces in enacting legislation against child marriages, having set the minimum legal age for marriage at 18. She also advised brides to read the marriage contract thoroughly before marriage, as a lack of information can lead to women being deprived of their rights in cases of divorce or separation. Minister Sher Ali announced an awareness campaign beginning on the 25th of this month to educate women across Sindh on their rights.
“Under the vision of Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the Sindh government is committed to empowering and protecting women’s rights,” she added. Other notable attendees included Chairman of the Sindh Human Rights Commission Iqbal Detho, Secretary for the Department of Information Nadeem Memon, and representatives from the Women’s Development and Social Welfare departments, as well as several social organizations and donor agencies.
