The prisoners at Shahpur District Jail in Sargodha have started producing soap, shampoo, and sanitizers under a skill development program launched by the jail administration.
The initiative, which aims to empower inmates with vocational skills, will benefit not only Shahpur Jail but also prisons across Punjab.
The program equips inmates with the skills to manufacture soap, dishwashing liquids, and sanitizers, using machinery installed specifically for this purpose. The products are intended for both internal use within Punjab’s prisons and external sale in the open market, offering a source of compensation for the inmates. “We are now learning skills with our own hands.
The opportunity for us to get out of jail and improve our lives in society,” said Syed Yousaf, an inmate participating in the program.
According to DIG Prisons Saeedullah Gondal, the project represents a significant step toward prisoners' economic and social rehabilitation. "Our aim is to give them such skills that they can improve their lives in the future," he stated.
The training program enables prisoners to acquire the necessary skills within a month, with the capacity to produce up to 100,000 soaps monthly.
Inmates involved in the program will receive vocational training and economic support, helping them reintegrate into society as productive citizens after their release.