LAHORE: The Punjab government has granted a 30-day remission for any convicted illiterate prisoner, who obtains certificate of proficiency in reading, writing and numeracy under the approved literacy programme by the literacy and non-formal basic education department.

The remission was granted after the Punjab governor allowed amendment in the Pakistan Prisons Rules, 1978, with immediate effect.

A notification issued by the Punjab home department and subsequent gazette notified by the Punjab law and parliamentary affairs department explains the insertion after Rule 215 as: “Literacy and Non-Formal Basic Education Remission. Rule 215-A: A convicted illiterate prisoner, who obtains certificate of proficiency in reading, writing and numeracy under the approved literacy programme by the literacy and non-formal basic education department, shall be entitled to special remission of days by the superintendent jail. The special remission under sub-rule (i) shall be granted in addition to and independently of any ordinary, special or other remission.”

The Punjab government has been running an adult literacy programme in all Punjab jails since May this year. So far, some 19,578 prisoners have been taught under the literacy programme and some 4,088 prisoners have been released. Overall, some 11,317 inmates have passed the literacy examination.

According to data, over 4,000 inmates are attending literacy classes at 182 literacy centres established in 43 Punjab jails. These inmates comprise 3,986 men, 187 women and 105 juveniles.

Home Secretary Dr Ahmad Javed Qazi said the department was pursuing the mission of education, reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners into society.

“Promoting education among prisoners, self-confidence, discipline and positive thinking are the main objectives of the literacy programme,” he said and added that jails had been converted into correctional centres.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2026