Peshawar, 8 August 2023 – United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Prison Inspectorate held a two-day consultative workshop under the European Union (EU) funded ‘Deliver Justice Project’ to discuss prison issues in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and possible solutions to address them.

For an effective criminal justice system, it is essential to move away from punishment and incarceration and focus more on safe custody, rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners. In order to achieve this goal, there is a dire need to introduce prison reforms in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to ensure the secure, safer, and humane custody of prisoners. In view of this, the UNDP Pakistan Rule of Law Programme and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Prison Inspectorate brought together provincial government stakeholders and rule of law institutions to identify challenges and opportunities faced by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa prisons and identify concrete recommendations to address these challenges.

The workshop focused on themes of rehabilitation of prisoners, gender responsiveness for women prisoners and women prisons staff, vocational training and education, alternatives to imprisonment, resource constraints, prisoner file management, and staff development.

Honourable Justice Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, Chief Justice, Peshawar High Court attended the workshop as chief guest along with Dr Federico Romoli, International Aid/Cooperation Officer on Rule of Law, Delegation of the EU to Pakistan who joined the workshop virtually. Representatives from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Prison Inspectorate, Home and Tribal Affairs Department, and Police, Prosecution, Probation, Judiciary, Social Welfare, Special Education & Women Empowerment Department, UNDP, UN Women and UNODC also participated in the workshop.

In his address, Honourable Justice Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, Chief Justice, Peshawar High Court, remarked, “Prison reforms play a pivotal role in ensuring that our justice system is fair, just, and focused on rehabilitation rather than retribution. Overcrowding, inadequate infrastructure, limited access to healthcare and education, and the perpetuation of a culture of violence are some of the pressing challenges we face. It is imperative that we confront these challenges head-on and work towards viable solutions.” He also appreciated the efforts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Prison Inspectorate, UNDP Pakistan and the EU for continuous support.

Dr Federico Romoli, International Aid/Cooperation Officer on Rule of Law, Delegation of the EU to Pakistan, affirmed, “We are committed to cooperating with the rule of law institutions in Pakistan to enhance the delivery of inclusive justice for all, particularly women and other vulnerable groups. With this ultimate goal in mind, we are all well aware that the improvement of the penitentiary system is an absolute key priority.” He also thanked the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Prison Inspectorate and UNDP Pakistan for their efforts in improving the condition of prisons in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.