The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday hosted the National Conference on Prison Reform under the auspices of the National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee (NJPMC) at the Supreme Court Auditorium in Islamabad. The conference marked a significant step towards developing a nationally coordinated prison reform framework, with the provincial governments expressing their collective commitment to advancing the reform agenda envisioned by the NJPMC.
The conference brought together representatives from the judiciary, the federal and provincial governments, prison administrations, human rights institutions, law enforcement agencies and development partners to deliberate on the future of Pakistan’s prison system through a collaborative and solutions-oriented approach.
A defining feature of the conference was the participation of the chief ministers of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh, who unanimously reaffirmed their commitment to supporting and implementing the prison reform agenda under the guidance of the NJPMC. The Federal Minister for Law and Justice and the Chairperson of the National Commission for Human Rights also addressed the audience. Their participation reflected a shared national resolve to strengthen prison administration, improve the rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates, uphold human dignity and modernise correctional services through coordinated federal-provincial cooperation.
In his keynote address, Chief Justice of Pakistan observed that prisons reflected the true state of the criminal justice system and emphasised that meaningful reform required shared institutional responsibility and sustained provincial leadership. He welcomed the collective commitment of the provincial governments to advancing the NJPMC’s National Prison Reform Action Plan through coordinated and practical reforms.
The conference provided a high-level platform for constructive dialogue on the challenges confronting Pakistan’s prison system and explored practical measures to strengthen prison governance, improve rehabilitation programmes, enhance inter-agency coordination and promote a rights-based approach to prison management.
The conference concluded with the adoption of the Conference Declaration, which sets out a broad policy framework and future roadmap for prison reforms in Pakistan. The declaration, annexed to the press release, reflects the shared commitment of all stakeholders to pursuing coordinated and sustainable reforms.