KARACHI: Inspector General of Prisons Sindh, Fida Hussain Mastoi has stressed that prisons should not function merely as centres of punishment but must play a meaningful role in the rehabilitation, training and reintegration of inmates as productive members of society.
He said the lack of social acceptance after release often pushes former prisoners back into crime, making rehabilitation a key factor in reducing repeat offences.
Speaking during a visit to the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), the IG Prisons said the Sindh Prisons Department was introducing modern vocational and skills development programmes for inmates.
However, he emphasized that the success of these initiatives depends on active and sustained cooperation from the industrial sector.
IG Mastoi informed participants that Sindh’s prisons currently house around 28,000 inmates, exceeding capacity by more than 12,400 prisoners. Despite severe overcrowding, he said, the department was working on multiple reform initiatives aimed at transforming inmates into responsible citizens.
He proposed the formation of a dedicated task force under the supervision of a DIG, comprising representatives from KATI and experts from various industrial sectors.
The task force would work on providing modern machinery and equipment inside prisons, imparting market-relevant skills, and facilitating industrial orders and projects for inmates.
“If industries provide work orders — such as from textile mills, factories or other enterprises — prisoners can function as an organized workforce while serving their sentences,” he said.
“After release, these trained individuals can be absorbed into the same industries, enabling them to earn a dignified livelihood.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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