LAHORE: The Punjab government has launched the “Naya Aghaz” programme to provide socio-economic rehabilitation to prisoners, offering interest-free loans of up to Rs200,000 to deserving inmates upon release so they may start businesses using skills acquired during incarceration.

A memorandum of understanding in this regard was signed by the Punjab Prisons, home department and Akhuwat Islamic Microfinance here on Monday.

The Akhuwat has initially allocated a revolving fund of Rs5 million for the purpose. Loans will be repayable in 36 equal monthly installments, and the recovered amount be reinvested to benefit more prisoners.

Briefing the ceremony, Special Secretary Home Zainab Khan said the programme was designed to convert vocational training into employment. Under the “Skilled Prisoner Programme”, she said inmates in all Punjab jails were currently being trained in 23 different trades besides different certified vocational courses.

The prisons department will recommend eligible prisoners for loans after screening them three months prior to release, taking into account conduct during jail and training received.

Chief Minister Task Force on Prisons chairman Rana Manan Khan said the aim was to make released prisoners financially self-reliant and enable them to live with dignity. He said steps were being taken to turn jails into true rehabilitation centres.

Akhuwat Foundation chairman Dr Amjad Saqib said the assistance would be strictly interest-free under the Qarz-i-Hasna principle. He said the Akhuwat had so far disbursed Rs500 billion in interest-free loans to some 4.5 million families.

IG Prisons Mian Salik Jalal informed that over 28,000 prisoners had been trained and certified through Tevta and PVTC centres in jails, while 6,500 were currently undergoing training. He said some 74 psychologists were serving in Punjab jails for inmates’ mental and social rehabilitation. He said the prisoners on NACTA or UN Security Council lists would not be eligible for the interest-free loan.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2026