LAHORE: The Punjab Home Department has launched the adult literacy programme in all prisons across Punjab, establishing 176 literacy centres in 44 prisons of the province where 17,600 inmates are receiving education.

Fifteen literacy centres will be set up in all major prisons of Punjab while smaller prisons will have four centres each with uniforms for teachers and students. Only educated inmates have been given the status of teachers.

It may be mentioned that under prison rules, both prison teachers and students will get remission in sentence for teaching and studying. Similarly, under the rules, the Literacy and Basic Education Department will pay honorarium to the teachers.

Chairman of the CM Task Force on Prisons Rana Mannan and Home Secretary Dr Ahmad Javed Qazi inaugurated literacy centre classrooms for inmates at the District Jail, Lahore, and met with prisoner teachers and students.

Mr Mannan said Punjab’s prisons were being turned into true correctional centres. At the time of admission to prison, he said, every inmate’s educational screening would also be conducted. A modern system for the sale of products made by inmates in prison industries had been introduced while the government was actively working to reform the offenders by providing a better environment and training.

Home secretary Dr Qazi said the inmates who would be released before completing their education would be able to continue their education outside prison. He added that the adult education programme was also being launched for 40,000 probationers.

The home secretary said education and training would keep inmates away from crime after their release. DG Literacy Asim Javed and DG Probation & Parole Shahid Iqbal, Special Secretary Home Zainab Khan, IG Prisons Mian Farooq Nazir and other officials were also present.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2026