Punjab tightens Nikah Registrar rules to crack down on child marriages

The Directorate General of Local Government & Community Development (LG&CD) Punjab issued detailed instructions to field authorities

LAHORE: The Punjab government has introduced a stringent oversight framework for Nikah Registrars, Union Council Secretaries and Assistant Directors to improve transparency in marriage registration and strengthen safeguards against child marriages across the province.

The Directorate General of Local Government & Community Development (LG&CD) Punjab issued detailed instructions to field authorities, along with new eligibility requirements and monitoring checklists for Nikah Registrars. The measures were communicated in a letter dated June 17, 2025, addressed to the Executive Director of Group Development Pakistan.

Under the revised criteria, a Nikah Registrar will only be permitted to hold a licence within his own Union Council. Individuals facing a registered criminal case will also be barred from obtaining a licence.

The department has additionally made digital literacy a mandatory requirement for new applicants. Candidates must be capable of operating a smartphone and using the internet before they can qualify for appointment as Nikah Registrars.

Applicants will also be required to pass a competency test covering Nikah registration procedures, relevant rules and child marriage laws. A minimum score of 90 per cent has been prescribed for securing a new licence, while individuals who fail to meet the required qualifications will not be allowed to continue performing the duties of a Nikah Registrar.

The department has warned that disciplinary proceedings will be initiated against registrars found violating legal or procedural requirements.

The new mechanism also places greater responsibility on Nikah Registrars to ensure that complete documentation accompanies every registered Nikahnama. Registrars must submit the required documents of both the bride and groom to the relevant Union Council. Failure to submit Part No. 4 of the Nikahnama within seven days may result in cancellation of the registrar’s licence and further departmental action.

The oversight framework establishes a multi-level monitoring system involving Union Council Secretaries, Nikah Registrars and departmental inquiries. Union Council Secretaries will be responsible for ensuring that serial-numbered Nikah registers are properly issued and maintained, registered copies of Nikahnamas are provided to the concerned parties within the prescribed period, and suspected cases of child marriage are immediately reported to the relevant authorities.

They will also be required to ensure that official registers are properly deposited when a registrar retires or has his licence revoked.

Nikah Registrars, meanwhile, have been directed to accurately complete the relevant sections of the Nikahnama and provide copies to the bride, groom and Union Council. They must verify the ages of both parties in accordance with applicable child marriage legislation and ensure that all supporting documents are properly attached and attested.

The registrars have also been instructed to report any violation or non-compliance to the competent authorities.

According to the LG&CD Punjab, the reforms are intended to strengthen implementation of the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act, the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance 1961 and the applicable Nikah Registration Rules.

The department said the new oversight system would improve accountability and transparency in marriage registration while providing greater protection to children against unlawful marriages.

Officials expect the reforms to reduce procedural irregularities, improve public confidence in the registration process and reinforce the government’s efforts to prevent child marriages.

All concerned field officers have been directed to implement the instructions in letter and spirit and ensure that marriage registration is conducted strictly according to law.