LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif has instructed that prison cells in the province be converted into real rehabilitation centers, making wide-ranging changes in areas like infrastructure, inmates’ welfare, juvenile jails, women prisons, educational and transportation aspects. Punjabi prison reform package proposed by Maryam Nawaz has been discussed in a high-level meeting held on Friday. This is the most comprehensive reform package for the Punjab prisons in recent times.
The chief minister allocated a sum of Rs1.3 billion for the timely completion of Nankana Sahib jail and fixed September 2026 as the deadline for the completion of Nankana Sahib and Samundri jails. Construction of new jails in Chiniot and Murree is also moving ahead at brisk speed.
Addressing Overcrowding With 27 Barracks Construction
Overcrowding is Punjab prison system’s foremost structural issue at the moment. In the ongoing Punjab prison reforms project initiated by Maryam Nawaz, 27 new barracks are being constructed at the moment to ease the stress caused by overcrowding in prisons.
The allocation of Rs1.3 billion for Nankana Sahib prison construction after the submission of a video progress report during the meeting is a sign that the government aims to fast-track construction projects which usually take time in Punjab.
Reform Package’s Areas of Coverage
The prison reform package proposed by Maryam Nawaz for Punjab covers all areas related to the corrections system via an extensive action plan that includes:
Infrastructure & New Institutions:
- 27 additional barracks under construction
- Rapid construction of jails in Chiniot & Murree
- Construction of Nankana Sahib jail & Samundri jail to be completed by September 2026
- Establishment of three modern women’s prisons in Lahore, Faisalabad & Rawalpindi
- Waiting sheds, cart, family rooms for prisoner’s family members
Transport reform:
- 30 prison vans to be remodelled and converted into air-conditioned vehicles
- Upgraded vans to feature washrooms, camera screens, and ergonomic seating
Welfare and nutrition:
- Mattresses approved for all male prisoners’ barracks
- Weekly diet plans formalised for all inmates
- Welfare stores established inside prisons
- Special nutritional supplements introduced for imprisoned mothers and children up to six years of age
- Regular inspections mandated to ensure food quality standards
Women and children:
- Quality beds, play areas, vocational training, and regular education facilities directed for children living with incarcerated mothers
- Juvenile prisons across Punjab to be upgraded
- Special nutritional support for imprisoned mothers formalised
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Education Behind Bars – The Statistics Do the Talking
The one feature that stands out in the Punjabi reform initiatives by the Maryam Nawaz program is the magnitude of academic success attained in the prisons:
| Educational Level | Inmates Completed |
|---|---|
| Matriculation | 472 |
| Intermediate | 367 |
| Graduation | 140 |
| Registered for literacy programme | 4,141 |
Through the CM Punjab Literacy Program, 4,141 prisoners have enrolled to get educated. “One Barrack One Library” policy has led to many successes in matriculation, intermediate, and graduation courses, where prisoners have used their jail time in such a way that their lives could be bettered through education.
Modern Remission Management System
Apart from this, the chief minister gave his consent to the implementation of a modern Remission Management System for the prisoners – an information technology system which sets standards and provides a transparent process for making remission decisions.
Rehabilitation Over Punishment
The Punjab prison reforms initiated by Nawaz highlights an unmistakable indication of the philosophy of the correctional policies of Punjab, according to which the prisons should deliver rehabilitated citizens, and not hardened criminals. Air conditioned prison vans, food supplements for pregnant women, libraries in each barrack, graduation certificates from jail — these are not luxury additions in the system of prisons. These are just some of the facilities of the correctional philosophy.
Nayab Fatima is a media professional specializing in fact-based journalism, research, and analytical reporting on technology, telecom, aviation, and automobiles.
