relevant national legislation, regulations, and policies, as well as applicable international and regional instruments. There is a National Academy of Prison Administration in Lahore to cater to the training and sensitization programs for prison officials. NAPA as the key institution for Prison training is highly underutilized. According to NAPA official, only 30% of the Officers / Officials have completed their Basic Training and remaining 70% are untrained. After devolution, the provinces are setting up their own training academies and are not inclined to send their officers to NAPA. In the past 18 months, NAPA has trained only 121 prison officials which equates 7 officials a month. Ministry of Interior needs to rationalize the existence of a federal academy for training that trains such few officials a year. In the absence of such training and capacity building, prison staff remains generally unaware of their duties under the Prison Rules specially those which concern the humane and dignified treatment of prisoners. NAPA trainings in 2021-2022 Sr. No. Number of courses Duration 1. Assistant Superintendent Jail to Deputy Superintendent Jail Promotion Course 01-12-2021 to 18-02- 10 participants from 2022 KPK 2. Assistant Superintendent Jail to Deputy Superintendent Jail Promotion Course 21-03-2022 to 21-07- 38 participants 2022 30 from Punjab and 02 from Adiala Jail 3. Senior Clerks / Chief Warders to Assistant Superintendent jail Promotion Course Assistant Superintendent Jail Basic Training Course 08-11-2021 to 01-01- 16 participants from 2022 KPK 4. Number of trainees 06-09-2022 to 22-09- 14 participants 2022 11 Sindh and 03 Punjab A mandatory in-service and centralized training at NAPA must be made a prerequisite for promotion of all jail officials in Pakistan - similar to the National Institute of Public Administration for civil servants. Alternately, if the provinces go ahead with their own training institutes, the NAPA should be disbanded in order to avoid duplication and expenditure of resources. 29