LAHORE – Following the directive of the Punjab Chief Minister, the Punjab Home secretary on Thursday issued a notification granting a 90-day remission in the sentences of prisoners across Punjab on the occasion of Eid al-Adha.
The Punjab Home Department said that around 450 prisoners held in jails throughout the province will benefit from this special concession, while 270 prisoners are expected to be released, allowing them to celebrate Eid with their families.
Meanwhile, authorities have arrested more prisoners who had escaped from Malir Jail, with the search continuing for 111 others still at large.
The remission has been granted under Rule 216 of the Pakistan Prison Rules, 1978. However, prisoners convicted of terrorism, sectarianism, rebellion, or anti-state activities are excluded from this concession.
Similarly, no remission would be provided to convicts involved in espionage, murder, adultery, drug trafficking, robbery, kidnapping, financial embezzlement or cases causing harm to the national treasury.
Earlier this year in March, the Punjab Home Department announced that prisoners working in various jail industries have started receiving wages, enabling them to support their families while serving their sentences.
Punjab Home Department’s spokesperson had told media that in a notable development, inmates at District Jail Shahpur received wages before Eid for producing Nooroozi sandals, a popular traditional footwear.
These handcrafted sandals are now being sold in the market, and the earnings are directly deposited into the prisoners’ personal accounts.
He stated that prisoners are being trained under the supervision of experts, ensuring that their products meet high standards of quality, durability, and craftsmanship.
He added that providing vocational training and employment opportunities to inmates paves the way for their reintegration into society as productive citizens after their release.
Additionally, the Gujranwala Chamber of Commerce & Industry is assisting in the sale, customer service, and delivery of products made by prisoners.
Across Punjab, inmates are engaged in manufacturing furniture, carpets, handicrafts, utensils, paper, tiles, phenyl, perfumes, soap, LED bulbs, tissue paper, footballs, and more.
Furthermore, prisoners are receiving vocational training in fields such as motor mechanics, barbering, cooking, beauty services, and IT to enhance their employability after release.
The spokesperson said that the jail industry and skilled prisoner programs stand as a model of successful prison reforms, aiming to empower inmates with dignity, self-sufficiency, and a brighter future.
