The Federal Prison and Correctional Facility Act, 2026 has moved a step closer to introduction after a final draft was prepared and forwarded to the Ministry of Interior for approval. According to Dawn, the proposed law is intended for introduction and implementation in the federal capital, and it seeks to provide a legal framework for prisons, the reformation of prisoners and their rehabilitation.
Officials familiar with the matter told the newspaper that the legislation is being drafted to provide for the establishment, management, safety and security of prisons, as well as the care and custody of prisoners. The final draft was prepared by Ali Akbar, the newly appointed Senior Superintendent of Prison.
What the Federal Prison and Correctional Facility Act Would Change
The draft sets out the objectives of the Federal Prison System in broad terms. It describes the system as contributing to a just, peaceful and safe society by enforcing the sentences awarded by courts, in accordance with the Act and its regulations. It also requires prisoners to be kept in safe and secure custody while ensuring that their fundamental rights, as enshrined in the Constitution, in the international conventions to which Pakistan is a party and in applicable laws, are implemented without compromising the objectives of punishment and correctional measures.
The proposed law further commits the system to promoting prisoners’ welfare and to their reintegration into society as law-abiding citizens by adopting best practices. Among its basic principles, every prisoner must accept the authority of prison officers and obey their lawful instructions, while all prisoners are to be treated with due respect in recognition of their inherent dignity. The draft prohibits discrimination on any basis except as provided under the law.
Prisoners’ Rights and Rehabilitation
The provisions on prisoners’ rights form a substantial part of the draft. Prisoners would be informed of their duties, rights and obligations, which may also be published, and would undergo medical and psychological examinations as prescribed by the rules. They would be allowed to lodge complaints freely, and a mechanism based on modern standards would be established to address them. The draft also provides for the adoption of technology to improve operational efficiency, accountability, security and discipline within the prison system.
Contact with the outside world is addressed in some detail. Prisoners may personally send and receive letters and make or receive audio and video calls through facilities provided in the prison, while relatives, friends and persons providing legal assistance may visit them. Prisoners may also receive their spouses for the exercise of conjugal rights. All correspondence, communications and visits would be supervised by a prison officer, as may be prescribed.
On the rehabilitation of prisoners, the draft requires all sentenced prisoners to participate in the reformation process and ensure its implementation. They may be offered incentives in the form of special remissions and monetary benefits, as may be prescribed. The Superintendent may, however, initiate necessary action against a prisoner found involved in a breach of discipline or a criminal offence under any law.
Governance and Oversight Under the Draft
The draft also addresses how prisons would be established and administered. The government may declare any building, enclosure, land or premises to be a Federal Prison and Correctional Facility. It may establish, alter, expand or relocate a prison, specify its classification, and direct the transfer of prisoners elsewhere. It may also designate any place as a subsidiary or temporary prison. Every prison declared under the Act would be subject to the administrative control and management of the Inspector General.
A Prison Management Board headed by the chief commissioner would be established to recommend measures for the efficient and transparent management of prisons. The board would in turn set up an Oversight Committee covering prisoners’ welfare, philanthropic initiatives, rehabilitation programmes and the monitoring of prison administration. Prison officers would be provided with weapons, uniforms and equipment, and an officer found guilty of misconduct would face the prescribed penalty following disciplinary proceedings, with at least one right of appeal.
Prison Reform in Islamabad Takes Shape
The draft law arrives as the capital prepares to bring a new prison into use. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on October 28 that about 1,500 of the 3,300 Islamabad prisoners held at Adiala Jail would be shifted to the new model jail at sector H-16 in the first phase, with the remainder to follow once its second phase is completed. He said the project was launched in 2009, with construction beginning in 2016. Dawn reported that the first phase was completed at a cost of around Rs7 billion.
A subsequent Dawn report said more than 350 personnel, including police, medical, sanitation and ministerial staff, had been attached to Federal Prison Islamabad, and that sources expected prisoners to be transferred once the government gave its go-ahead. Taken together, these developments suggest that prison reform in Islamabad is advancing on both the infrastructure and the legislative fronts. The final shape of the Federal Prison and Correctional Facility Act will depend on the approval of the Ministry of Interior.
Follow SouthAsianDesk on X, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business and current affairs from across South Asia.
Read More:
