Laws in Pakistan
How Pakistan is classified on 33 of the 48 laws this site maps, grouped by subject. Each links to the full answer and its source.
Body & Life
- Abortion
- Legal (limited) Abortion is permitted on limited grounds such as a risk to health.
- Suicide Laws
- Not a crime
- FGM Laws
- No specific ban There is no specific legal ban on FGM.
Money & Games
- Gambling Age
- Gambling prohibited Gambling is prohibited at any age.
- Cryptocurrency
- Legal Cryptocurrency is legal to own and trade.
Daily Life
- Public Smoking Bans
- Partial ban Smoking is restricted in public buildings and transportation, but specific hospitality exemptions are not detailed.
- Driving Age
- 18+ Minimum age to drive a car: 18.
Animals & Environment
- Fur Farming
- Legal No ban on fur farming.
- Cosmetic Animal Testing
- No ban No ban on testing cosmetics on animals.
- Plastic Bag Bans
- Banned Lightweight plastic bags are banned nationwide.
Civic & Family
- Voting Age
- 18 The voting age is 18.
- Compulsory Voting
- Voluntary Voting is voluntary.
Relationships & Sexuality
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Not recognized Same-sex unions have no legal recognition.
- Same-Sex Activity
- Illegal Same-sex sexual activity is a criminal offence.
- Age of Consent
- 18+ The age of consent is 18.
- Sex Work
- Illegal Prostitution is illegal in Pakistan, with stricter penalties in some regions.
- Divorce
- Legal Divorce is legal and generally available by mutual consent without fault.
- Non-Binary Recognition
- Limited recognition Pakistan issues national identity cards with a distinct gender marker for the khawaja sara community.
- Same-Sex Adoption
- Not permitted Same-sex couples cannot adopt.
- Incest Laws
- Criminal offense
- Marriage Age
- 18+ Minimum marriage age: 18.
Speech & Belief
- Blasphemy Laws
- Death penalty possible Blasphemy is a criminal offense in Pakistan that can carry the death penalty.
- Apostasy Laws
- Criminal offense Apostasy is a criminal offence under hudood law per the Federal Shariat Court, despite lack of statutory enactment.
- Holocaust Denial
- No specific law No specific law against Holocaust denial.
- Conversion Therapy
- No ban No legal ban on conversion therapy.
Justice & Weapons
- Death Penalty
- Retained / in use Retained in law and used.
- Gun Laws
- Permissive Handguns are licensed as of right, and personal protection is an accepted reason on its own.
- School Corporal Punishment
- Varies by region National ban failed, but some provinces like Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have banned it.
- Military Conscription
- No conscription
Substances
- Cannabis
- Illegal Cannabis is illegal for all purposes.
- Drinking Age
- Alcohol prohibited
- Smoking Age
- 18 Minimum age to buy tobacco: 18.
- E-Cigarettes
- Legal / lightly regulated E-cigarettes are legal, subject to an age limit.
Nearby countries
A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.