LAHORE: The Punjab government has recently greenlighted a new policy that places individuals incarcerated for minor crimes under the jurisdiction of Deputy Commissioners.
This decision was finalized during the 8th session of the Standing Committee on Legislation and Privatisation.
The Home Department proposed the initiative, which gained the majority support of the committee.
The policy aims to integrate prisoners with minor offenses back into the community through engagement in services such as sanitation, plantation, and employment in skilled sectors, reflecting their areas of expertise.
This approach not only aims to rehabilitate individuals by involving them in constructive community work but also seeks to alleviate the overcrowding in prisons by releasing inmates who have completed their sentences for minor offenses.
The recommendations have been forwarded to the Punjab Cabinet for final approval and are poised for implementation upon endorsement.
