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........

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