The Sindh government has initiated a pioneering program to provide educational assistance to the children of convicted prisoners, aiming to support over 4,600 inmates’ families across the province.
This collaborative effort between the education and prisons departments, alongside Paigham-e-Pakistan, seeks to ensure that these children receive support from primary to university levels. Education Minister Sardar Ali Shah emphasized the state’s role in acting as a nurturing entity, stating, “We are helping children who have committed no crime. Denying them education would be the greatest injustice because children should not be punished for the actions of their parents.”
In the initial phase, admission letters have been issued to 100 children, with data collection underway for an additional 2,638 children to facilitate their enrollment in educational institutions. The program offers families the choice between government and private schools, with the government providing full support.
Prisons Minister Hasan Ali Zardari highlighted that the absence of a breadwinner often places inmates’ families in challenging situations, akin to imprisonment. He remarked, “We must change the perception of prisons in Sindh into reform centers. Helping inmates’ children get an education will integrate entire families into the rehabilitation process.”
The initiative also extends to juvenile inmates, with 14 convicted juveniles and 56 children residing in jail with their mothers set to benefit from educational and vocational training programs.
Additionally, Paigham-e-Pakistan has proposed supplementary support measures, including microfinancing up to Rs500,000 to assist inmates’ children in starting businesses and monthly financial assistance of up to Rs12,000 for families of convicted inmates to mitigate economic vulnerabilities.
