In a significant move to address the growing challenges of overcrowding, security lapses, and staff shortages in provincial prisons, the Sindh Prison Department has decided to recruit 6,000 officers and personnel across jails in the province, official documents reveal.
According to the plan, 1,000 personnel will be hired in the first phase, followed by the recruitment of another 5,000 officers and staff in the second phase. The decision comes amid alarming conditions inside jails, where inmate populations have surged far beyond capacity. Currently, over 25,500 prisoners are being held across Sindh’s jails though the sanctioned strength of prison staff is based on a capacity of only 13,000 inmates.
As per the law, 4,000 personnel are required to manage 13,000 prisoners, highlighting the massive shortfall in staff amid rising security concerns. The urgency of the situation was further underscored by the recent Malir Jail security breach, where an attempted jailbreak sparked widespread concern over weak internal controls, inadequate surveillance and insufficient force. The incident exposed vulnerabilities in the existing prison infrastructure and brought public attention to the deteriorating conditions within the correctional facilities. In response, the Sindh government has initiated multiple reforms. These include the installation of modern wireless systems, CCTV surveillance, and command-and-control rooms in all jails to enhance monitoring and security.
Moreover, full-body scanners will be introduced for inmate checks, and fully equipped visitor halls will be established to improve conditions for prisoners’ families during meetings. To overcome the transport shortage faced by the department, the purchase of 80 police mobiles and 40 ambulances has been approved.
Proposals are also under review to revive IT education programs and jail industries, aimed at rehabilitating inmates and equipping them with skills for reintegration into society. To decongest the overcrowded Malir and Hyderabad jails, the Landhi Extension Jail has already been established, while the Thatta Jail is expected to be inaugurated next month. These developments mark a critical attempt to reform the ailing prison system of Sindh, which has long suffered from neglect, underfunding, and chronic overcrowding.
