Prison population climbs to 110,513 as three-fourths of inmates under trial

Prison population climbs to 110,513 as three-fourths of inmates under trial

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s prison population has reached 110,513, with three out of every four prisoners awaiting trial, according to the Annual Prisons Data Report 2026, jointly compiled by the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) and Justice Project Pakistan (JPP). The report, launched on Thursday at a local hotel with the support of the European Union, found that prisons across the country were operating at over 160pc of their authorised capacity. Against a capacity of around 68,832 inmates, the prison system was holding 41,681 more people than it was designed to accommodate. Of the total prison population, 82,988, or 75pc, were under-trial prisoners. Their number alone exceeded the country’s total authorised prison capacity by 14,156. The report, in its second edition, brought together official prison data from across the country to examine trends in incarceration, overcrowding, under-trial detention, bail, trial delays and the use of alternatives to imprisonment. Punjab, Sindh face severe jail overcrowding as KP, Balochistan reduce population Chairperson NCHR Rabiya Javeri Agha said the country did not simply face a prison overcrowding problem but a broader criminal justice crisis. “People enter prison faster than our justice system can process them,” she said, calling for greater attention to prolonged detention, delays in trials, barriers to bail and the limited use of alternatives to imprisonment. Drug-related offences had also emerged as a major factor behind the growth in the prison population. More than 28,000 people were currently imprisoned under the Control of Narcotic Substances Act, accounting for more than a quarter of all prisoners. The report recorded an increase of over 43pc in the number of people imprisoned under drug laws since 2023, highlighting the role of drug-related prosecutions in driving prison overcrowding. The situation, however, varied considerably between provinces. While Punjab and Sindh had experienced significant surges in their prison populations and continued to face severe overcrowding, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan had reduced their prison populations and remained within their overall authorised capacity. According to the report, greater use of probation, parole, diversion and other alternatives to imprisonment had contributed to the reduction in the two provinces. The report also highlighted growing pressure on vulnerable groups. The number of women in prison had increased by 45.96pc since 2024, while 86.2pc of children in prison were awaiting trial. At the same time, the country’s death-row population had declined to 3,220, representing an 11.7pc reduction from 2024. Justice Project Pakistan Executive Director Sarah Belal said the data should be used to guide reforms in the criminal justice system. EU Delegation in Pakistan Head of Partnerships Jeroen Willems said prison management reflected how society treated people in state custody and stressed the need for evidence-based reforms to strengthen access to justice. The report called for measures to reduce unnecessary detention, reform bail and surety practices, address delays in trials, expand non-custodial alternatives and strengthen prison oversight. It also recommended reviewing laws and policies that contributed to unnecessary incarceration. Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2026