MIANWALI: An inmate released from the Mianwali Central Jail after serving 25-year term has been provided dignified livelihood in the form of an electric workshop under the Punjab government’s Naya Aghaaz Programme.

The initiative is a part of the jails reforms introduced in the province as per the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, says Jail Superintendent Siddique Gul, who inaugurated the workshop for the released prisoner, Hamidullah, at Musa Khel.

Speaking on the occasion, the superintendent said that under the Naya Aghaaz Programme, prisoners having any skill, upon their release, are being provided an interest-free Rs200,000 loan to help them earn a respectable living.

He added that through a joint initiative of the Punjab Prisons Department and Akhuwat Islamic Microfinance, eligible convicts can, after their release, obtain interest-free loans to start businesses based on the skills they learned in jail, to earn livelihoods with dignity.

On the occasion, Hamidullah expressed his gratitude to the Punjab government for providing him with an opportunity to earn honorable earning for his family.

ARRESTED: Piplan police claimed to have arrested seven suspects allegedly involved in an attempted murder case during an operation against criminal elements and illegal arms.

According to the police, Piplan SHO Sub-Inspector Shahid Aziz and his team arrested seven suspects -- Qasim Khan, Misal Khan, Lala Khan, Multan Khan, Rehman, Marwat Khan, and Noorang Khan. The police also recovered 30-bore pistols from the arrested suspects.

In another operation, the police arrested a suspect, Saleh Khan, for aerial firing and recovered a pistol from him. During interrogation, none of the suspects could produce licences for the weapons.

Separate FIRs have been registered against the arrested suspects.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2026