# *Detailed SUMMARY of the article “Save the girls” by Editorial, Published in Dawn on May 31st, 2025:* The editorial praises President Asif Zardari’s approval of the *Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Bill, 2025*, which classifies under-18 marriages as rape, despite opposition from the *Council of Islamic Ideology (CII)*, which deemed it contrary to religious law. In Pakistan’s patriarchal society, where *19 million girls* are married before 18, ranking sixth globally for child brides, this law is a significant step. Nearly *half* of these girls become pregnant before 18, and only *13%* complete secondary school, underscoring the urgency of implementation to protect girls’ rights to health, education, and opportunities. The editorial highlights the role of regressive customs and socioeconomic distress in driving early marriages, which lead to lost childhoods, domestic violence, health risks (*childbirth deaths*, *cervical cancer*—the second most common cancer among women aged 15–44), and poor education outcomes. A *Unicef* campaign featuring actor *Saba Qamar* aims to challenge societal norms, raise awareness of child marriage consequences, and promote girls’ empowerment. As a signatory to the *Convention on the Rights of the Child*, Pakistan must act decisively. The editorial urges lawmakers to resist conservative pressures, noting the *CII*’s advisory role should not override constitutional liberties, including the safety and dignity of women and children. # *Easy/Short SUMMARY*: President Zardari’s approval of the *Child Marriage Restraint Bill, 2025*, despite *CII* objections, is a vital step to curb child marriages, affecting *19 million* Pakistani girls. With *half* pregnant before 18 and only *13%* finishing secondary school, the law needs strong implementation. *Unicef*’s campaign with *Saba Qamar* promotes awareness, while lawmakers are urged to prioritize girls’ rights over conservative pressures. # *SOLUTIONS of The Problem*: ## *1. Enforce the New Law* Ensure robust implementation of the *Child Marriage Restraint Bill, 2025*, with strict penalties for violations. ## *2. Raise Public Awareness* Expand *Unicef*’s campaign to educate communities on the harms of child marriage and girls’ rights. ## *3. Strengthen Education Access* Provide free secondary education and scholarships for girls to reduce early marriage rates. ## *4. Improve Healthcare* Enhance maternal and reproductive health services to prevent *childbirth deaths* and *cervical cancer*. ## *5. Address Socioeconomic Distress* Offer financial support to poor families to reduce economic pressures leading to child marriages. ## *6. Empower Local Authorities* Train police and local officials to enforce child marriage laws effectively. ## *7. Limit CII Influence* Reinforce the *CII*’s advisory role, ensuring it cannot block progressive legislation. ## *8. Engage Religious Leaders* Encourage progressive clerics to advocate against child marriage using Islamic principles. ## *9. Monitor Compliance* Establish a national task force to track and report on child marriage law enforcement. ## *10. Align with Global Commitments* Fulfill *Convention on the Rights of the Child* obligations to protect girls’ rights. # *IMPORTANT Facts and Figures Given in the article*: - *19 million* girls in Pakistan are married before age 18, ranking sixth globally. - Nearly *half* of these girls become pregnant before 18. - Only *13%* of child brides complete secondary school. - *Cervical cancer* is the second most common cancer among women aged 15–44. - The *Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Bill, 2025*, classifies under-18 marriages as rape. - *Unicef* launched a campaign with *Saba Qamar* to combat child marriage. # *IMPORTANT Facts and Figures out of the article*: - *83%* of Pakistani girls are married before 18 (*UNICEF*, 2024). - Pakistan’s *maternal mortality rate* is *186 per 100,000 live births* (*WHO*, 2024). - *1 in 10* girls married before 15 faces domestic violence (*PDHS*, 2017–18). - The *Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929*, set the minimum age at 16 for girls, updated by the 2025 bill. - *CEDAW* (*1996*) commits Pakistan to eliminate gender-based discrimination. - *1.8 million* child marriages occur annually in Pakistan (*UNFPA*, 2024). # *MCQs from the Article*: ### 1. *How many girls in Pakistan are married before age 18?* A. 10 million *B. 19 million* C. 25 million D. 5 million ### 2. *What percentage of child brides complete secondary school?* A. 50% *B. 13%* C. 25% D. 75% ### 3. *What health issue is the second most common among women aged 15–44?* A. Breast cancer *B. Cervical cancer* C. Lung cancer D. Diabetes ### 4. *Who is the National Ambassador for Child Rights in Unicef’s campaign?* A. Mahira Khan *B. Saba Qamar* C. Mehwish Hayat D. Sajal Aly ### 5. *What international agreement is Pakistan a signatory to?* A. Kyoto Protocol *B. Convention on the Rights of the Child* C. Paris Agreement D. Geneva Convention # *VOCABULARY*: 1. *Patriarchal* (پدر شاہی) – Dominated by male authority 2. *Agency* (اختیار) – Ability to make independent decisions 3. *Assent* (منظوری) – Official agreement or approval 4. *Regressive* (رجعت پسند) – Backward or opposing progress 5. *Nuptials* (شادی) – Marriage or wedding ceremonies 6. *Vulnerability* (کمزوری) – Susceptibility to harm 7. *Lethargy* (سستی) – Lack of energy or action 8. *Constitutional* (آئینی) – Relating to the constitution 9. *Liberties* (آزادیاں) – Rights or freedoms 10. *Whims* (خواہشات) – Sudden or arbitrary desires 11. *Safeguarding* (تحفظ) – Protecting from harm 12. *Empowerment* (بااختیار بنانا) – Giving power or authority 13. *Consequences* (نتائج) – Outcomes or effects 14. *Dignity* (عزت) – Worthiness or respect 15. *Resistance* (مزاحمت) – Opposition to change or action 16. *Implementation* (نفاذ) – Putting a plan into action 17. *Socioeconomic* (سماجی اقتصادی) – Related to social and economic factors 18. *Distress* (پریشانی) – Extreme difficulty or suffering 19. *Campaign* (مہم) – Organized effort to achieve a goal 20. *Advisory* (مشاورتی) – Providing advice, not binding --- 📢 *Attention Please!* We appreciate your commitment to acquiring knowledge through our summaries. Please be reminded not to remove the attribution label affixed to this article. It is crucial to acknowledge the source and the effort invested in creating this summary. We discourage any unauthorized distribution without proper credit. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. 🔍 ⚡ *Explore More Summaries, Solutions, and Vocabulary Meanings* 💡 Join our WhatsApp Channel for timely and comprehensive summaries of the latest articles, along with well-crafted solutions and helpful vocabulary meanings. Click the link below to join now 🔗 [Dawn Article Summaries](https://cssmcqs.com/dawn-editorials-articles-summary-for-students-pdf-download/) *WhatsApp Channel Link*: [https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va7tT3o35fLnJeFbpS2y](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va7tT3o35fLnJeFbpS2y) --- *www.dawn.com* *Save the girls* *Editorial* *3 minutes* SOME traditions that hinder individual progress are a heavy cross for society to bear. In Pakistan’s deeply patriarchal environment, where a female child’s agency is determined by her biological age, President Asif Zardari’s assent to the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Bill, 2025, despite resistance from the Council of Islamic Ideology — which said that classifying under-18 marriages as rape was in conflict with religious law — deserves applause. Pakistan, where some 19m girls are married off before they turn 18, is home to the sixth highest number of child brides in the world. Almost half of these youngsters become pregnant before the age of 18, and a mere 13pc complete secondary school. The bill is now law; however, its desperately needed implementation will depend on the government’s political commitment to safeguarding the girl child’s right to health, education and opportunities to realise their potential. The lethal mix of regressive customs and socioeconomic distress leads to early marriage. The new video campaign from Unicef, featuring its National Ambassador for Child Rights, actor Saba Qamar, is a timely move that promises to reach scores, open minds and drive change. It encourages society to question the practice, spells out the consequences of underage nuptials for girls and calls for the empowerment and protection of young females in Pakistan. Child marriage is no child’s play; it means lost childhoods, vulnerability to domestic violence, death during childbirth, poor health and even cervical cancer; the second most common cancer among females between 15 and 44 years. As a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Pakistan cannot afford lethargy. It is also hoped that lawmakers will not allow conservative sections to hold constitutional liberties, including the safety and dignity of women and children, hostage to their whims. The CII has an advisory role, and there should be no pressure on lawmakers to comply with all its wishes. Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2025