Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar says comprehensive reforms are being introduced in the prison system across the country.

Addressing the National Conference on Prison Reforms in Islamabad today, he said the government is committed to ensuring equal treatment to all prisoners. He said the reforms would provide relief to inmates who are separated from their families.

The Law Minister emphasized the need to transform the culture within prisons and align prison laws with modern requirements.

Addressing the conference, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said institutional reforms have been introduced in the province's prisons to ensure that no prisoner suffers unnecessarily.

She said Punjab operates one of the largest correctional systems in Pakistan, comprising 45 prisons.

She added that the provincial government has installed emergency call and panic buttons in prison cells across the province.

Maryam Nawaz said technology-driven initiatives, including an online appointment facility for jail visits, are now available for prisoners throughout Punjab.

Speaking on the occasion, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said the provincial government is focused on building a more efficient, humane, and rehabilitative justice system that protects society while preserving human dignity.

He said the Sindh government has adopted a modern prison management framework. He added that legislation has been introduced to ensure prisoners' welfare, healthcare, education, vocational training, legal aid, and community corrections.

In his remarks, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti said the province is shifting from a traditional custodial model to a modern correctional service framework focused on rehabilitation, reintegration, and public safety.

He said prison reforms remain a key priority of the provincial government's agenda. He said a comprehensive programme is being implemented to strengthen correctional administration, including the effective management of prisons and judicial lock-ups across the province.

The Chief Minister said the Balochistan government remains committed to working in partnership with the judiciary to build a correctional system fully aligned with the rule of law.

Addressing the event, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said the provincial government is introducing prison reforms to safeguard the rights of prisoners.

He said security at prisons has been enhanced and vocational training programmes have been launched for inmates. He added that small industrial units have also been established within prisons to enable prisoners to earn livelihoods for their families while serving their sentences.

The Chief Minister said an e-visit facility has also been introduced, allowing prisoners to communicate with their families. He further said rehabilitation centres for drug addicts have been established, where over 1,600 individuals have received treatment so far.

At the conclusion of the conference, the Islamabad Declaration on Prison Reform was signed by the chief ministers of all four provinces.