LAHORE (Nazrana Times): The Punjab government has taken a significant step towards reforming Christian personal laws, with a high-level technical committee reaching consensus on proposed amendments to the Christian Marriage Act and approving the introduction of an online registration system for Christian marriages.
The second meeting of the high-level technical committee, constituted on the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, was chaired by Provincial Minister for Minorities Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora.
During the meeting, the committee reviewed proposed amendments to the Christian Marriage Act, recommendations submitted by a sub-committee, and measures aimed at updating Christian personal laws in accordance with contemporary legal and administrative requirements.
Following detailed deliberations, the committee agreed on a way forward for placing the proposed amendments to the Christian Marriage Act before the Punjab Assembly. The proposed changes will require completion of the legislative process before becoming law.

Online Registration of Christian Marriages

The committee also approved the introduction of an online registration system for Christian marriages. The proposed digital system is intended to improve transparency, reduce irregularities in marriage records, and strengthen the preservation and accuracy of official documentation relating to Christian families.
Officials from the relevant department briefed the participants on the proposed reforms, while Dr Noel Khokhar delivered a presentation on the subject.
The participants discussed various aspects of the proposed legislative framework and considered recommendations from legal, religious and educational experts.

Religious Education Facilities for Minority Prisoners

In another decision, the committee approved steps to provide religious education and examination facilities to prisoners belonging to minority faiths.
A separate committee will develop a mechanism for implementing the initiative and identifying certified teachers who can provide religious education to eligible prisoners.
Members of the Punjab Assembly, representatives of relevant government departments, legal experts and educationists attended the meeting and contributed to the discussion.

‘Important Step for Christian Community’

Addressing the meeting, Provincial Minister for Minorities Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora described the progress on Christian personal-law reforms as an important step towards strengthening legal safeguards for the Christian community.
He said protecting the rights of the Christian community remained a firm commitment of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and described the proposed reforms as part of the provincial government’s broader policy of improving legal and social protections for minority communities.
Arora welcomed the committee’s consensus on moving forward with amendments to the Christian Marriage Act and said the government was working to provide more effective legal protection and improved administrative facilities to Christian citizens.
He said online registration of Christian marriages would help make the system more transparent while improving the preservation and accuracy of official records.
“We are working towards a modern, transparent and effective system to protect the legal rights of Christian families,” Arora said.
The minister added that the views of religious representatives, legal experts, educationists and other stakeholders were being incorporated into the legislative process.

He reiterated that the Punjab government would continue taking practical measures aimed at protecting the religious, legal and social rights of minority communities.