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KP Assembly Receives Bill to Replace 154-Year-Old Christian Marriage Law
PROVINCE REPORT
PESHAWAR: In a landmark step towards strengthening the rights of religious minorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ms. Shazia Tehmas Khan, Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) from the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP), has introduced the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Christian Marriage Bill, 2026. The draft legislation has been submitted to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Secretariat and is currently under review before being taken up for legislative consideration.
The proposed Bill seeks to replace the 154-year-old Christian Marriage Act, 1872, an outdated colonial-era law, with a modern legal framework that reflects Pakistan’s constitutional guarantees, contemporary administrative standards, and the evolving needs of the Christian community in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The legislation establishes a comprehensive legal framework for the solemnization, registration, regulation, and legal recognition of Christian marriages in the province. It introduces stronger safeguards against child marriage, forced marriage, coercion, fraud, misrepresentation, and unlawful solemnization while ensuring that Christian marriages continue to be conducted in accordance with the religious practices of different churches and denominations.
The Bill also introduces modern procedures for marriage registration, secure maintenance of physical and electronic marriage records, improved coordination with civil registration authorities, including NADRA, and enhanced legal certainty for Christian families. It further protects the legitimacy and rights of children, strengthens accountability through transparent regulation of marriage registrars and ordained ministers, and introduces safeguards against fraudulent practices.
The proposed legislation is the result of an extensive consultative process involving Christian community elders, representatives of various churches, clergy, legal experts, civil society organizations, and human rights stakeholders. The legislative draft is firmly grounded in Biblical values and Christian traditions, while remaining fully consistent with the Constitution of Pakistan and contemporary legal standards.
The bill has been jointly drafted by MPA Shazia Tehmas Khan, Blue Veins & NCHR, with technical support by Mr. Qamar Nasim, Program Manager at Blue Veins, under the Sub NCHR/KP’s Sub Committee on Minority Rights.
Speaking on the introduction of the Bill, Ms. Shazia Tehmas Khan said:”This Bill is a historic step towards ensuring equal rights, dignity, and legal protection for the Christian community of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Developed through extensive consultations with churches, clergy, community leaders, and legal experts, the legislative draft is firmly grounded in Biblical values and Christian traditions while remaining fully consistent with the Constitution of Pakistan. It replaces an outdated colonial-era law with a modern legal framework that protects Christian families and respects their faith.”
Rizwan Ullah Shah, Coordinator, National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said:”The NCHR remains committed to promoting the rights of religious minorities through dialogue and inclusive lawmaking. We are pleased that the Commission’s Sub-Committee on Minority Rights contributed to the consultative process that helped shape this important legislative reform for the Christian community.”
Qamar Naseem, Program Manager, Blue Veins, who provided technical support in drafting the legislation, said:”This Bill reflects the collective input of Christian community elders, church leaders, clergy, legal experts, and civil society. It modernizes Christian marriage law while preserving Christian traditions, strengthening legal protections, and responding to the practical needs of Christian families in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”
Once enacted by the Provincial Assembly, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Christian Marriage Act, 2026 will repeal the application of the Christian Marriage Act, 1872 within the province and establish a modern, transparent, and rights-based legal framework for Christian marriages that better serves present and future generations.
National
Haroon Says Gov Bringing Gold Policy when Stake Holders Shared the Rare Mineral is going to China
Tazeen Akhtar
ISLAMABAD : Haroon Akhtar Khan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister and Minister-in-Charge for Industries and Production has shared with the stake holders that Pakistan is preparing its first Gold Policy. He did not give the details neither he shared this before the representatives of the minerals and mines association pointed out that Pakistani gold is going to China in the name of refining and Pakistan does not have any facility to refine its own the most precious minerals.
The venue was MSME day event at Rural Development Foundation Islamabad as the joint venture of Small and Medium Entrprises Development Authority and Islamabad Small and Medium Chambers of Commerce Islamabad. Federal Secretary Industries Humaira Zia Mufti, Chairperson SMEDA Ms Nadia Jahangir, President ICCI Sardar Tahir Mehmood, President RCCI Usman Shaukat, President Women Chamber of Commerce Samina Fazil and President Small Chamber Awais Satti were also present.
SMEDA Chief Executive Officer, Nadia Jahangir Seth, highlighting the key initiatives under the organization’s three-year business plan, said that SMEDA is actively working to make Pakistani MSMEs more competitive, trustworthy for financial institutions and connected to global markets through business registration, export readiness, international certification, digital transformation and eco-friendly business development.
Haroon Akhtar in his keynote address shed light on the steps government is taking to strengthen SMEs. He said remarkable growth has been noted in this sector. According to the State Bank of Pakistan, SME financing rose from Rs 584 billion to approximately Rs 854 billion by March 31, 2026, marking a 46 percent annual increase.
During the same period, the number of SME borrowing businesses grew by 53 percent, surpassing 312,000. These figures were cited as an indication of growing confidence in Pakistan’s business environment.
He said SMEDA is actively working to strengthen the SME ecosystem by improving access to finance, promoting formalization and documentation of businesses, and enhancing their competitiveness in domestic and international markets.
He said the government is connecting Pakistani SMEs with international markets through digital platforms and has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Alibaba to facilitate online exports and e-commerce opportunities.
Samina Fazil took Haroon Akhtar hard and raised the issue of inclusiveness of women entreprneurs in the decision making processes. She said , gov is not taking women on board. There is nothing in the federal budget for the women doing business.
She said SMEDA is conducting training workshops but through the third party. TDAP is working with big businessmen only. She criticized allocation of hundreds of billions for BISP and said , gov is making the women beggars. Her remarks were welcomed by the participants who appreciated her with big applause.
Here it is worth mentioning that one can easily see what are the priorities of the government. To help small and medium women entrepreneurs stand on their foot and contribute in the economy of Pakistan or make the most of them charity seeking burden on the society only. As Haroon Akhtar said, 30 billion allocated for small businesses while at the other hand 838 billion have been pledged for BISP.
The government has allocated a historic Rs 838 billion for the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) in the FY 2026-2027 budget, up from Rs 716 billion in FY 2025-2026. This nearly 17% increase is designed to expand nationwide social coverage and ease the impact of rising energy tariffs.
Mir Behroz Riggi, Chairman Mines and Minerals Association Balochistan drew the attention of Haroon towards the poor status of miners in the province. He sought industry status for the mines where more than 15 thousand people are working. He demanded railway connectivity for the mines.
He pointed out that lack of refineries for the minerals compels the country to send the gold to China. He emphasized the need of setting up of refineries to refine raw gold in the country. He asked for Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation to be activated whose work has been given to other people. He did not clarified who are the people.
Abdul Qayyoom, from KP said mines sector badly needs peace and investment in the province. He said there is no peace in the province. Trade with India banned , Afghanistan border closed and the export of Marble to India stopped after 2019. Marble and Gypsum work is shut down because of these factors.
Haroon Akhtar Khan listened to the suggessions and called them to meet him in the office to discuss the matters in detail.
Here it is worth recalling that CDF, Field Marshal, COAS General Asim Munir , after assuming the office of Chief of Army Staff, boosting the moral of the nation, in his addresses mentioned the wealth of minerals in Pakistan. He presented some rare minerals to President Trump in Washington during his early visit. And how unfortunate this reality is, that Mines sector still seeking the status of industry. And Pakistan does not have refineries or any such facility to refine minerals like gold even from the raw materials.
