Balochistan Appoints Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners as Prison Inspecting Authorities

QUETTA: The Balochistan government has delegated new oversight powers to divisional and district administrations under the Balochistan Prisons and Prisoners Correctional Service Act, 2026, aiming to make the province’s prison system more effective, transparent, accountable, and aligned with human rights standards.

According to a notification issued by Chief Inspector of Prisons and Special Secretary Home Abdul Salam Khan Achakzai, all commissioners and deputy commissioners across the province have been designated as Inspecting Authorities for prisons and other detention facilities.

Under the new arrangement, commissioners and deputy commissioners will be authorized to conduct both regular and surprise inspections of prisons and detention centers within their respective jurisdictions.

The inspections will assess the quality of healthcare, education, sanitation, food, and other basic facilities provided to inmates. Any shortcomings identified during the inspections are to be addressed through immediate corrective measures.

The notification also makes it mandatory for inspection reports to be submitted to the relevant authorities within seven working days.

Officials said the initiative is part of Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti’s prison reform agenda, which seeks to transform prisons from institutions focused solely on punishment into centers for rehabilitation, correction, and the protection of human dignity.

The government believes the move will strengthen prisoner welfare, safeguard fundamental human rights, and improve transparency, accountability, and oversight within the prison administration, marking a significant step toward modernizing Balochistan’s correctional system.