Anchor Maria Memon, in a poignant segment on ARY News’ “Sawal Ye Hai,” shed light on the distressing rise of underage marriages in flood-stricken regions of Pakistan.
The report draws attention to the exacerbated poverty and the consequential troubling trend in child marriages, particularly highlighted by an AFP study.
The analysis revealed that economic hardships following the devastating floods of 2022 have precipitated a surge in child marriages, notably in Dadu district, one of the regions worst affected. For instance, the village of Khana Muhammad Mulla witnessed 45 underage marriages since the last monsoon, with 15 occurring in just May and June of this year.
Families grappling with dire financial conditions post-flood often see marrying off their young daughters as a quick means to alleviate their financial burdens. In one reported case, the family of a young bride received 200,000 rupees. Another harrowing account involved a mother whose 10-year-old daughter, Mehtab, was married off against her wishes. Despite her desire to continue her education and her awareness of the challenging lives faced by married girls in her community, economic desperation dictated her fate.
Najma, another young girl, initially enthralled by her wedding gifts, soon faced the harsh realities of her new life. Returning to her parent’s home with a husband and a six-month-old child, they struggle with sustenance, as her husband had accrued a debt of 250,000 rupees for the wedding.
This escalating crisis places Pakistan as the sixth highest globally for the number of girls married before the age of 18, as per the latest official statistics. Maria Memon’s report highlights the critical situation and calls for urgent attention and action to combat this severe issue affecting young girls across the region.
