<P> Over the years, there has been a decline in the occurrence of child marriages but it is lower in case of females than males . The trend of child marriages has been a major cause of girls' illiteracy or lower level of education . It can also damage the girls physical, mental and social health leading to serious health issues in the future . Prenatal, neonatal, and maternal health problems are also tied to women married before the age of 18 . It is also evident that child marriages are widely prevalent among cultivators and laborers . Dependency on elders and lack of independent occupational aspirations or occupational mobility further hampers the efforts of limiting child marriages . As a result, child marriages, particularly in the rural areas of Pakistan, continue to take place . There are, however, spatial trends as indicated by different trends of distinct villages . Big farmers seem to be gradually doing away with child marriages; and it remains more concentrated among the landless farmers and laborers . Exposure to urban areas has helped in reduction of child marriage; and finally, realization of bad effects of child marriages has positive relationship with reduction in child marriage indicating thereby a positive role of general understanding and awareness which is spreading quite fast . </P> <P> The possibility of mismatches of marriages is high . Child wives fall ill and lots of times die which explains one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country . Infants born to the child mothers are many times feeble . The marital lives remain unhappy and child wives lack happiness due to their life - time inability to support their lot . Many a times, the young wives become vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases . The occurrence results in increasing the population growth rate . </P> <P> Child marriage in Pakistan is legally prohibited to an extent under the Child Marriage Restraint Act 1929 (No XIX). Under the Act, the minimum age for marriage is 18 years for a male and 16 years for a female (section 2). Contravention is punishable with a fine of Rs. 1000 and an imprisonment of one month or both for </P> <Ul> <Li> An adult male (above 18 years of age) who contracts marriage with a child (section 4). </Li> <Li> A person who solemnizes a child marriage (section 5). </Li> <Li> A parent or guardian who does not act to prevent a child marriage (section 6). </Li> </Ul>

What is the legal age of marriage in pakistan