Pakistan’s prison population crosses 110,000 as ...

Summary

• ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s prison crisis is deepening, with the country’s prison population reaching 110,513, while nearly three out of every four prisoners remain behind bars without being convicted, according to a new report by the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) and Justice Project Pakistan (JPP).
• The report notes that this group alone exceeds the country’s entire authorised prison capacity by more than 14,000 prisoners.
• Prison growth is not inevitable Despite the national crisis, the report points to provincial differences as evidence that alternatives to imprisonment can make a difference.

AI Generated Summary

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s prison crisis is deepening, with the country’s prison population reaching 110,513, while nearly three out of every four prisoners remain behind bars without being convicted, according to a new report by the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) and Justice Project Pakistan (JPP).

The Annual Prisons Data Report 2026, launched on Thursday with support from the European Union, paints a troubling picture of a criminal justice system struggling with overcrowding, lengthy trials and heavy reliance on imprisonment.

According to the report, Pakistan’s prisons are operating at 160.6% of their authorised capacity. The country has space for around 68,832 prisoners but is currently holding 41,681 more people than the system was designed to accommodate.

The largest pressure comes from under-trial prisoners. Some 82,988 people, or 75.09% of the total prison population, are awaiting trial. The report notes that this group alone exceeds the country’s entire authorised prison capacity by more than 14,000 prisoners.