Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari has officially enacted the Christian Marriage (Amendment) Act 2024, which raises the marriageable age for Christians to eighteen, aligning with ongoing efforts to enhance minority rights in Pakistan.

According to Press Information Department, the new legislation was signed at a ceremony in Aiwan-e-Sadr, marking a significant shift from the previous age requirements of sixteen for men and thirteen for women as stipulated in the Christian Marriage Act of 1872. During the event, President Zardari advocated for an increase in the employment quota for minorities within government jobs, reiterating his commitment to ensuring equal rights for all citizens regardless of religious affiliation.

The ceremony was attended by prominent figures including the Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-Faith Harmony, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, and Bishop Abraham Daniel, who acknowledged the amendment as a fulfillment of a longstanding request by the Christian community. The act was signed under Article 75 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, with the President emphasizing the country’s dedication to the principles of equality and the protection of minority rights as envisioned by Pakistan’s founders.