ISLAMABAD: The provincial government in Pakistan’s Punjab province has paid wages to inmates ahead of Eid for crafting handmade ‘Norozi chappals,’ the home department said on Monday, marking a significant step in prison labor reforms.
The prisoners at Punjab’s Shahpur prison, trained by experts from the private sector, were paid as part of Punjab’s Jail Reforms Agenda for making Norozi chappals, a variation of the traditional Peshawari chappal, that are crafted from full-grain leather and feature a classic toe and cross-over strap design. These chappals often feature a double sole for added comfort and durability.
Tauseef Sabeeh Gondal, a Punjab home department spokesperson, said the provincial government is utilizing corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs of private companies to train inmates in various skills and the earnings would allow them to cover personal expenses within prison facilities and support their families outside.
“Around 20 prisoners were trained in the initial phase and they are now earning fair wages. In the open market, laborers typically receive Rs450 ($1.60) per set of 12 pieces of the upper or lower part of the sandal, but under this program, inmates are paid Rs455 per set,” Gondal said.
“Just two days ago, these inmates were paid around Rs10,000 ($35) each for their work.”
The Jail Reforms Agenda, which was initiated last year, covers all 44 prisons in the province and has introduced motor mechanics, barbering and information technology (IT) skills development programs, according to the home department.
Inmates in Punjab are now engaged in producing goods, including clothing, carpets, furniture, handicrafts, tiles, paper, footballs, perfumes and tissue paper. While eligibility criteria for these training programs vary, initially, prisoners with good conduct were selected.
Gondal said although industrial units for carpet, sports goods and manufacturing of some other goods already existed in Punjab prisons, this specific project aimed to ensure vocational training reached all inmates.
“The reforms go beyond industrial training. The government has also introduced educational programs, improved visitation facilities, psychological counseling, and skill development centers to help inmates reintegrate into society,” he shared.
Currently, a prison in Faisalabad is operating a full-scale printing press, Kasur prison is manufacturing shoes, and Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore is producing high-quality furniture, according to the official.
“In fact, I have a table in my office that was made by prisoners at Kot Lakhpat,” Gondal added.
At Punjab prison, inmates earn honest wage making leather shoes ahead of Eid
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At Punjab prison, inmates earn honest wage making leather shoes ahead of Eid
- The inmates, trained by experts from the private sector, were paid as part of the Punjab government’s Jail Reforms Agenda launched last year
- Official says the skill development program and earnings would allow prisoners to cover personal expenses within prisons and support families
Pakistan says responding to Afghan ‘offensive operations’ after border fire as tensions escalate
- Afghan Taliban spokesperson says “large-scale offensive operations” launched against Pakistani military bases
- Pakistan says Afghan forces opened “unprovoked” fire across multiple sectors along shared border
ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities said on Thursday they had launched “large-scale offensive operations” against Pakistani military bases and installations, prompting Pakistan to say its forces were responding to what it described as unprovoked fire along the shared border.
The escalation follows Islamabad’s weekend airstrikes targeting what it said were Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Daesh militant camps inside Afghanistan in response to a wave of recent bombings and attacks in Pakistan. Islamabad said the strikes killed over 100 militants, while Kabul said dozens of civilians were killed and condemned the attacks as a violation of its sovereignty.
In a post on social media platform X, Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Afghanistan had launched “large-scale offensive operations” in response to repeated violations by the Pakistani military.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Information said Afghan forces had initiated hostilities along multiple points of the frontier.
“Afghan Taliban regime unprovoked action along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border given an immediate, and effective response,” the ministry said in a statement.
The statement said Pakistani forces were targeting Taliban positions in the Chitral, Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram and Bajaur sectors, claiming heavy Afghan casualties and the destruction of multiple posts and equipment. It added that Pakistan would take all necessary measures to safeguard its territorial integrity and the security of its citizens.
Separately, security officials said Pakistani forces had carried out counterattacks in several border sectors.
“Pakistan’s security forces are giving a befitting reply to the unprovoked Afghan aggression with full force,” a security official said, declining to be named.
“The Pakistani security forces’ counter-attack destroyed Taliban’s hideouts and the Khawarij fled,” they added, referring to TTP militants.
The claims from both sides could not be independently verified.
Cross-border violence has intensified in recent weeks, with Pakistan blaming a surge in suicide bombings and militant attacks on militants it says are based in Afghanistan. Kabul denies providing safe havens to anti-Pakistan militant groups.
The clashes mark the third major escalation between the neighbors in less than a year. Similar Pakistani strikes last year triggered weeklong clashes before Qatar, Türkiye and other regional actors mediated a ceasefire in October.
The 2,600-kilometer (1,600-mile) frontier, a key trade and transit corridor linking Pakistan to landlocked Afghanistan and onward to Central Asia, has faced repeated closures amid tensions, disrupting commerce and humanitarian movement. Trade between the two nations has remained closed since October 2025.
