PUNJAB is undertaking one of Pakistan’s most comprehensive prison reform programmes, seeking to transform correctional facilities from overcrowded places of detention into institutions that emphasize rehabilitation, education, healthcare and human dignity alongside security. Through investment in infrastructure, administrative reforms and technological innovation, the provincial government aims not only to enforce the law but also to prepare prisoners for successful reintegration into society.
The reforms come as Punjab’s prisons continue to face severe overcrowding. The prison population fluctuates between 68,000 and 79,000 inmates, with nearly 73 percent comprising under trial prisoners, highlighting the need for faster criminal trials and stronger probation and parole mechanisms. Prison capacity has increased from 30,000 to 39,000 and is expected to reach 43,718 by 2027. Infrastructure development remains central to the reform agenda, with additional funding for the Nankana Sahib prison, new prisons at Nankana Sahib and Samundri nearing completion, 27 new barracks under construction and additional correctional facilities planned for Chiniot and Murree.
Alongside expanding capacity, the government is improving inmates’ welfare and access to justice. A formalized Legal Aid Agency is providing free legal assistance to financially disadvantaged prisoners, while efforts are underway to strengthen probation and parole systems. Prison hospitals are now subject to regular inspections by the Punjab Healthcare Commission. Between January and June 2026, more than 91,000 prisoners received medical screening and treatment, while 74 professional psychologists have been engaged to improve mental healthcare.
Women and children have become an important focus of the reforms. Mothers living in prison with children up to six years of age are receiving nutritional support, while improved hygiene facilities have been introduced for female inmates. Three modern women’s prisons are under construction in Lahore, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi. At juvenile correctional institutions, education, vocational training and recreational facilities are being expanded to promote rehabilitation rather than punishment.
Education and skills development remain at the heart of Punjab’s correctional strategy. Under the Chief Minister’s Literacy Programme, more than 4,100 inmates have enrolled in formal education. Through the “One Barrack, One Library” initiative, hundreds of prisoners have completed matriculation, intermediate and graduation. Vocational training in computer applications, mobile phone repair, welding, tailoring, cooking and mechanical trades, along with prison industries operating in 15 correctional facilities, is helping inmates acquire employable skills before release. Technology is also modernizing prison administration through biometric verification, digital remission management, X-ray screening systems and integrated security mechanisms. Prisoners now have access to audio and video calling facilities, while thousands have been transferred to prisons closer to their home districts to facilitate family contact. The government is also upgrading prison transport vehicles to ensure safer and more dignified transportation.
The reforms are grounded in Pakistan’s constitutional and legal framework, including Article 14 of the Constitution, the Prisons Act, 1894, the Punjab Prison Rules and international human rights conventions. They also reflect the principles of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules). Consistent with Islamic teachings that emphasize justice, compassion and human dignity, Punjab’s reform agenda seeks to build a correctional system that protects society while providing prisoners with a genuine opportunity for rehabilitation and a productive return to their communities.
— The writer is a Lahore-based public policy analyst.
