Peshawar: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has unanimously passed the Kalash Marriage Bill 2026, creating a dedicated legal framework to regulate marriages, divorces, registration procedures, and related family matters within Pakistan’s indigenous Kalash community.
According to the text of the legislation presented in the provincial assembly, marriages within the Kalash community must be based on the free and mutual consent of both parties. The law also requires that both individuals be of sound mental health, have attained the minimum legal age of 18 years, and must not fall within prohibited degrees of relationship.
One of the notable provisions of the new legislation is the prohibition of first-cousin marriages within the Kalash community, reflecting the community’s traditional customs and practices.
The bill further makes it mandatory to register all Kalash marriages through an officially designated local registrar. Authorities will also maintain official records of marriages, divorces, and dissolutions to ensure legal documentation and administrative transparency.
Under the new law, divorce, khula (judicial separation), and the dissolution of marriage will continue to be governed in accordance with the customs and traditions of the Kalash community. Similarly, inheritance rights following the death of a husband will be determined under the community’s traditional legal system.
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The legislation also introduces legal penalties for violations, including the submission of false information and failure to register marriages as required by law. Offenders may face fines and other legal consequences prescribed under the Act.
The Kalash Marriage Bill 2026 was originally introduced in the provincial assembly in April 2026 by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Local Government Minister Meena Khan Afridi. Its passage is regarded as an important step toward providing legal recognition and protection to the personal status matters of the Kalash community while preserving its unique cultural traditions.
