ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s prisons are facing severe overcrowding as the growing number of under-trial prisoners continues to put pressure on the country’s already limited jail capacity, with delays in court proceedings being cited as a major factor.
According to available figures, prisons across the country have a combined capacity of around 64,000 inmates, while approximately 110,000 prisoners are currently being held in jails nationwide.
The situation is particularly critical in Punjab, where 45 prisons have the capacity to accommodate around 38,000 inmates. However, approximately 70,000 prisoners are currently incarcerated in the province, meaning the prison population is nearly twice the available capacity.
Of the 70,000 prisoners in Punjab, only around 16,000 are convicted, while the vast majority are under trial.
Sindh is also facing significant overcrowding. The province has 23 prisons with a combined capacity of around 14,000 inmates, but approximately 25,000 prisoners are currently housed in its jails.
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Only around 4,000 of the prisoners in Sindh are convicted, indicating that the overwhelming majority are awaiting the conclusion of their cases.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 39 prisons currently hold approximately 11,382 inmates. Of these, only around 2,000 are convicted prisoners, while the remaining inmates are under trial.
The figures highlight the mounting pressure on the country’s prison system, with under-trial inmates making up a substantial proportion of the prison population. The prolonged pendency of cases has contributed to prisoners remaining in custody for extended periods before their trials are concluded.
The growing prison population has also raised concerns about overcrowding, living conditions and the ability of jail administrations to provide adequate facilities to inmates.
