AlKhidmat firmly believes that people in prisons are human beings like everyone else and, therefore, they too, must be treated humanely. We also believe that one must not lock people up, throw away the key, and forget about them. With this positive mindset, and considering the dire conditions in Pakistani prisons as outlined above, AlKhidmat decided to address humanitarian issues in the prisons beginning with those that require urgent attention. The most important issues were identified as health care, including provision of clean water, and vocational training for inmates, so that they can become productive and self-sufficient members of society when they leave prison.

AlKhidmat decided to contact prison management in all four provinces of the country in order to solicit their cooperation so that a practical framework could formulated for relief work could be undertaken. Meetings with provincial prison management were extremely fruitful and AlKhidmat initiated various relief projects in the sectors mentioned earlier.

AlKhidmat has divided its Prisoners Welfare Program into two subsections:

•   Provision of Facilities
•   Legal Aid

Provision of Facilities 

This includes provision of water geysers, deep freezers, bedding & blankets, maintenance and whitewash of wards, installation of water filtration plants, and vocational training courses for inmates, as well as prison staff. AlKhidmat has spent Rupees 2.5 million on healthcare, vocational training, and clean water programs in prisons, while more than 300 men and women have received certificates by completing various vocational courses organized by AlKhidmat

Legal Aid

Most inmates are poor people who commit petty crimes out of ignorance and poverty. Apart from imparting vocational skills to inmates, such as computer courses, sewing courses, etc., AlKhidmat provides legal assistance to people who are unable to afford lawyers and court fees. Rupees 05 Million have been spent in legal assistance to date

AlKhidmat has now been working on various humanitarian projects in all the major jails of the country, such as hygiene awareness and promotion, informative lectures, distribution of informative pamphlets and booklets, and distribution of gifts on national days and cultural events. AlKhidmat has also been working on provision of sewing machines for women inmates, installation of water pumps and water filtration plants, and construction of medical wards in the country’s jails. These projects have had a very positive effect on the inmates, management, and environment of the jails, as well as helping the inmates in their reintegration into society as productive members.