The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, with funding from the European Union, formally handed over the Prison Management Information System to the Balochistan Prison Department during a ceremony in Islamabad on 15 May 2026. The digital platform is now live across 13 facilities in the province, including 11 prisons and the offices of the Inspector General and Deputy Inspector General of Prisons, marking a major step in the rollout of PMIS Balochistan.
The system provides secure access to detainee and inmate information for authorised prison personnel and improves coordination with courts and law enforcement agencies on individual cases. By centralising records and enabling timely data sharing, the platform is expected to support more informed decision-making across the corrections sector in Balochistan.
PMIS Balochistan also includes features designed to protect the rights and dignity of prisoners. The digital records and procedures aim to ensure treatment that is free from discrimination or mistreatment and to provide special safeguards for the most vulnerable in line with the Nelson Mandela Rules.
A new digital visitor management module will streamline family visits by reducing waiting times and making the process more organised and transparent. Improved recordkeeping and audit trails are set to enhance accountability and help build public trust in the management of correctional facilities.
The system was delivered under the EU-funded Deliver Justice Project, a 2021–2026 rule of law initiative with a wide portfolio of reforms across police, prosecution, judiciary and prisons. The project supported measures ranging from increased female participation in policing and expanded legal aid for women to training for judges, prosecutors and police and the construction of court-annexed mediation centres.
EU representatives and local officials highlighted continued support for citizen-centred, inclusive justice reforms. UNODC provided technical assistance, staff training and knowledge transfer to support long-term operation of PMIS Balochistan, including the establishment of a Prison Training Academy, an eLearning Centre at Mach and a Central Command Unit in Quetta. Training materials, policy guidelines and dedicated provincial staff and budgetary allocations were also put in place.
Inspector General Prisons Balochistan Capt. (R) Abdul Saeed Naveed noted improvements in operational efficiency and record management across facilities, while the Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik observed that with this handover all four provinces in Pakistan have transitioned toward digital prison management systems. The initiative is positioned to strengthen sustainability and interagency coordination across the criminal justice system in Balochistan.
