Punjab’s prisons are facing severe overcrowding, with 44 jails housing about 90 percent more inmates than their combined capacity, according to 24NewsHD TV.
Latest data shows the highest pressure in prisons in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Faisalabad. Sources said the overcrowded conditions are also contributing to the spread of different diseases among inmates.
There are currently 74,118 prisoners in jails across Punjab, including Lahore, while the total capacity stands at 39,304.
Both prisons in Lahore are holding more than twice the number of inmates they were designed for.
The figures show that 71,520 men and 1,718 women are currently incarcerated in Punjab’s prisons, while 704 prisoners are under the age of 18.
Of the total prison population, 59,586 inmates are under trial and 16,131 have been convicted.
Central Jail Rawalpindi has the largest prison population, with 8,329 inmates against a capacity of only 2,174.
The rise in the number of prisoners in Lahore has also renewed concerns over the need for new prison facilities. A proposal for a new jail in the city has remained pending for the past ten years.
Sources said the prison population has increased by more than 20,000 over the past three years, further worsening overcrowding and placing additional pressure on existing facilities.
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