Punjab govt to confine prisoners in home district jails

Responding to long-standing grievances from families of prisoners, the Punjab Home Department has unveiled a policy initiative to confine convicted inmates in their home district jails.

This shift aims to ease the financial and logistical burdens families endure when visiting inmates held in distant central jails.

Currently, prisoners sentenced to more than five years are transferred to central jails, often far from their home districts. However, with district jails now offering enhanced security and facilities, the Home Department is revisiting this practice.

The initiative also addresses overcrowding in central jails while optimising underutilised district facilities.

A high-level committee has been tasked with formulating recommendations within a week. Members include senior officials such as the Deputy Secretary (Prisons), Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs) of Sargodha and DG Khan regions, and the Superintendent of Central Jail Faisalabad.

Key drivers behind the policy shift included enhanced security measures in district jails and newly established prison industries offering labour and rehabilitation opportunities.

The initiative also aims to address concerns over long-distance travel, which exacerbates issues like urban smog and health problems in cities such as Lahore and Multan.

The policy is in alignment with Rule 158 of the Pakistan Prisons Rules, which empowers the Inspector General of Prisons to decide the location of prisoner confinement. Additionally, it builds on existing practices like confining death-row inmates in their home districts, as well as court rulings that emphasise humane treatment and accessibility.

A spokesperson for the Home Department stated, "This reform will benefit families, reduce congestion in central jails, and enhance rehabilitation efforts by leveraging district-level resources."