Lahore ; In a rare and seemingly progressive move, the Punjab government has introduced a new prison reform initiative allowing inmates serving sentences of five years or more to spend time with their families inside jail premises. Under the new policy, such prisoners can stay three times a year for three consecutive days in a specially designated “family room” with their wives and children under the age of six. Free meals and basic amenities will be provided during their stay. The application for the family room visit must be submitted by the prisoner or spouse to the jail superintendent, who forwards it to the Deputy Commissioner for final approval.
While this reform has been welcomed by some as a humane and rehabilitative approach, it raises several questions in light of the current prison conditions across Punjab. According to the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), Punjab’s 43 jails currently house approximately 61,813 inmates, despite having an official capacity for only 37,217. That’s an overcrowding rate of over 170%, placing extreme pressure on already strained infrastructure, sanitation, and healthcare systems.
The situation is worsened by Pakistan’s ongoing climate crisis. Between April and July 2025, the region experienced record-breaking heatwaves, with temperatures soaring to nearly 48°C. Human rights groups and local reports have highlighted an alarming rise in skin-related illnesses among inmates, including scabies, heat rashes, and other dermatological infections. In Balochistan’s Quetta district jail alone, over 200 prisoners were reportedly infected with skin diseases due to unsanitary conditions and lack of clean water. Similar concerns have been raised about jails in Punjab.
The issue is not just limited to men. Punjab’s prison population also includes over 900 female prisoners, dozens of juvenile detainees, and several transgender individuals. While the family room scheme currently applies only to male inmates, rights activists are calling for equal provisions for female prisoners, many of whom are mothers. They argue that if the reform is genuinely aimed at improving mental well-being and family connection, it must be inclusive.
Globally, the idea of conjugal or family visits inside prisons is practiced in many countries, often with a focus on rehabilitation and reducing recidivism. However, these programs usually operate in facilities with strong infrastructure, trained staff, proper medical and psychological services, and strict monitoring systems. In contrast, the absence of these foundational elements in Pakistani jails raises concerns about the feasibility and effectiveness of Punjab’s new reform.
Experts warn that while the opportunity to meet family members may offer short-term emotional relief, it does little to address the deeper systemic issues plaguing the prison system. Mental health support, counseling, education, and skill-building programs are largely absent. Without addressing these fundamental needs, critics say the reform risks becoming more symbolic than substantive.
On the other hand, if implemented with care ensuring clean and ventilated family rooms, regular medical checkups, psychological support, and proper oversight this initiative could pave the way for meaningful change in a system often described as punitive rather than reformative.
To ensure its success, transparency and accountability will be crucial. Independent oversight bodies, human rights commissions, and the media should be allowed to monitor the program and report on its outcomes, challenges, and loopholes. Moreover, the scheme must be part of a broader strategy to improve prison conditions, not a cosmetic fix for deeper structural failures. At its core, the family room initiative holds promise but only if the government treats it not as a photo opportunity, but as the beginning of a more compassionate and systemic reform of Punjab’s prisons.
