Islamabad, May 15, 2026: The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), with funding support from the European Union, formally handed over the Prison Management Information System (PMIS) to the Balochistan Prison Department during a high-level ceremony held in Islamabad on Friday.
The digital system will provide secure access to detainee and inmate information across 13 facilities in Balochistan, including 11 prisons as well as the offices of the Inspector General and Deputy Inspector General of Prisons.
Officials said the PMIS is expected to improve coordination between prisons, courts, and law enforcement agencies while enabling more informed decision-making within the corrections sector. The initiative also aims to strengthen prisoner rights and ensure treatment in line with international human rights standards, including the Nelson Mandela Rules.
Speaking at the ceremony, Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to Pakistan Jeroen Willems said the PMIS was introduced under the EU-funded Deliver Justice Project, which has supported a broad range of justice sector reforms over the past five years.
He highlighted that the project contributed to increasing women’s representation in police forces, expanding legal aid services for women, training judges, prosecutors, and police officers on human rights, and establishing court-annexed mediation centres in different provinces.
Willems reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment to supporting inclusive, citizen-centric, and sustainable justice sector reforms in Pakistan, particularly for vulnerable communities and underserved regions.
Officials noted that the new system would also benefit prisoners’ families through a digital visitor management mechanism designed to reduce waiting times and improve transparency during prison visits. Digital recordkeeping is also expected to enhance accountability and strengthen public trust through safer and better-managed prison facilities.
Inspector General Prisons Balochistan Abdul Saeed Naveed said the PMIS has already improved operational efficiency, record management, and coordination across prison facilities in the province.
In his keynote address, UNODC Representative Troels Vester stated that the PMIS reflects a shared commitment to transparent, modern, and human rights-compliant prison management in Pakistan.
He added that UNODC had provided technical support, institutional assistance, technology transfer, and capacity-building initiatives to ensure the system’s long-term sustainability. These measures included the establishment of a Prison Training Academy, an eLearning Centre in Mach, and a Central Command Unit in Quetta.
Training materials and operational policies were also developed, while the Government of Balochistan allocated dedicated staff and financial resources for the maintenance and operation of the system.
Addressing the ceremony, Minister of State for Law and Justice Aqeel Malik emphasized the importance of digital reforms in strengthening Pakistan’s justice system and improving governance outcomes.
He noted that with the operationalisation of PMIS in Balochistan, all four provinces of Pakistan have now transitioned toward digital prison management systems. He also acknowledged UNODC’s longstanding support in implementing PMIS across Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan.
The Deliver Justice Project, funded by the European Union with an investment of €20 million, is being implemented from 2021 to 2026 to strengthen Pakistan’s criminal justice institutions and improve access to justice, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The initiative supports reforms in policing, prosecution, judiciary, prisons, and legislative frameworks through institutional capacity building, digitalisation, and governance reforms.
