According to the Balochistan Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW), child marriage is prevalent in Balochistan, with a higher tendency for girls to marry young compared to boys.
PCSW stated that the trend of child marriages in Balochistan leads to an increase in pregnancies and a rise in child mortality rates.
A careful analysis shows that the marriage rate for those under 15 years is 12.5%, while the rate for those under 18 is 45%. The report highlights that this trend results in lower economic participation and limited educational opportunities and contributes to gender-based violence.
The report emphasizes the need to set the minimum age of marriage at 18 years and prohibit traditional norms that support marriage below this age.
