Karachi: The marriages of underage girls, causes increase in health, education and financial problems. Minimum age limit for marriage should be 18 years and society will have to create diversity in its vision and behaviour regarding this matter.

This was stated by Sindh Minister for Women Development, Tauqeer Fatima Bhutto along with women members of the Sindh Assembly at a meeting on underage marriages of girls.

Adviser to Chief Minister Sindh, Sharmila Farooqui, Tourism Minister Shazia Marri, MPAs Kalsoom Chandio, Zareen Majeed, Bilqees Mukhtar, Ayesha Khoso, Secretary Women Development Department Nargis Ghallo, Additional Secretary Naseem Nawaz, Director Women Development Department Ghulam Ali Barhamani and others were also present on the occasion.

Bhutto said that those who arranged underage marriage should be strictly punished and fined so as to mitigate the ratio of underage marriages.

She said that the present democratic government was working for the welfare of women according to Benazir Bhutto’s vision.

Sindh minister said that technical education support women to initiate their practical life so the Women Development Department launched Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Youth Development Programme, which had trained hundreds of women in three different departments.

She further said that complaint centres had been established at five cities in Sindh to control torture on women.
Source: Dawn
Date:5/8/2010