At a time of conflict, economic uncertainty, climate shocks and rapid technological change, countries are looking for the people and possibilities that will shape their future. For Pakistan, one answer is clear: it is girls.

Investing in girls is first about rights, dignity and agency. Girls have the right to learn, to be safe, to make informed choices and to shape their futures. When these rights are realised, girls can fulfil their potential – and contribute to Pakistan's economic strength, social resilience and future leadership.

Yet for millions of Pakistani girls, childhood and opportunity are still cut short.

This year’s International Day of the Girl Child highlights two issues that are inseparable: ending child marriage and investing in girls’ rights. A girl who marries too early is more likely to leave school and see her choices narrowed. A girl who stays in school is more likely to delay marriage, protect her health and enter adulthood with greater opportunities.

The numbers are stark. Pakistan is home to more than 19 million women who were married before the age of 18, among the highest numbers in the world. At the same........

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