At just 15 years old, Saima (name changed) was married off to a man twice her age in a desperate bid to survive the harsh realities of climate change in Dadu district, Pakistan. The wedding took place amidst fears of monsoon rains and floods, which had previously devastated the region in 2022, displacing families like Saima’s.
Saima’s father, Allah Bukhsh, an agricultural worker who had lost his livelihood due to the climate calamity, made the heart-wrenching decision to marry off his daughter for 200,000 Pakistani rupees. Saima, now a 16-year-old mother, expressed the challenges she faces with doubled responsibilities.
Child marriages, driven by poverty and displacement, are a common occurrence in Pakistan, despite laws setting the marriage age at 16 to 18. Extreme weather events exacerbate this issue, putting girls at increased risk, as highlighted by local NGOs and activists.
The call for awareness and education on the dangers of child marriage, along with stronger enforcement of laws, is crucial to protecting vulnerable girls like Saima from a lifetime of hardship and dependency.
Edited by: Srinivas Mazumdaru
