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At JPP, we are committed to transforming drug policy by addressing the critical links between drug use, poverty, and incarceration. Our mission is to advocate for a more equitable approach that prioritizes health, harm reduction and human rights.
Justice Project Pakistan is leading efforts to transform Pakistan’s punitive drug control system into one rooted in human rights, public health, and evidence-based reform. Recognising the deep links between drug use, poverty, incarceration, and health inequities, JPP conducts nationwide research and strategic advocacy to challenge the over-criminalisation of low-income individuals under the Control of Narcotic Substances Act. From championing proportional sentencing and non-custodial alternatives to building judicial capacity and engaging international partners, JPP is working to shift the national conversation—away from punishment and toward fairness, rehabilitation, and justice.
The current punitive drug control framework disproportionately affects low-income individuals, exacerbating their vulnerabilities. This approach increases their risk of addiction, exposure to diseases, and lengthy incarceration without access to necessary rehabilitation.
Incarceration leads to deteriorating health conditions and limited access to healthcare services. Overcrowded prisons create high-risk environments for the spread of infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis. Without adequate rehabilitation or harm reduction programs, individuals struggling with drug dependency face worsening physical and mental health outcomes.
Low-income communities face systemic barriers that worsen the impact of drug policies. Harsh sentencing laws and lack of legal support disproportionately affect those who cannot afford bail or effective representation. This perpetuates cycles of poverty and incarceration, cutting individuals off from employment, education, and social reintegration opportunities.
JPP conducts thorough research to understand the impact of drug policies on incarcerated individuals. Our studies highlight the urgent need for reform in the current punitive framework.
Analyzing the effects of drug laws on health and incarceration rates, JPP conducts multi-provincial studies with incarcerated individuals to understand how punitive drug policies contribute to rising imprisonment, declining conviction rates, and worsening prison health conditions. These insights inform our advocacy for legal and policy reform grounded in evidence.
Promoting health-centered policies through data-driven insights and advocacy. JPP works closely with judicial academies, policymakers, and international partners to advocate for proportional sentencing, harm reduction, and non-custodial alternatives. Our approach integrates public health principles with legal analysis to support systemic change.
The Prison Data Report 2024, a collaborative effort by the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), the National Academy of Prison Administration (NAPA), and Justice Project Pakistan (JPP), provides an in-depth analysis of the state of Pakistan’s prison system. Highlighting critical issues such as overcrowding, under-trial detentions, and systemic inefficiencies, this report is an essential resource for understanding the challenges within our criminal justice system and identifying pathways for reform. By presenting data-driven insights, the report aims to drive meaningful dialogue and action toward a more just and humane penal system.
JPP is dedicated to transforming drug policy by advocating for proportional sentencing and alternatives to incarceration. Our approach prioritizes health and human rights, ensuring fair legal representation for all.
We support sentences that reflect the severity of offenses, promoting justice and rehabilitation.
Our initiatives focus on treatment and community service as viable options over imprisonment.
JPP is committed to reshaping drug policies to prioritize human rights and public health. Our approach seeks to dismantle the harmful effects of punitive measures on vulnerable communities.
Promoting equitable treatment and rehabilitation for all individuals affected by drug policies. JPP envisions a system where drug dependence is treated as a public health issue, not a criminal one—ensuring that vulnerable populations receive access to voluntary treatment, harm reduction services, and reintegration support instead of incarceration.
Collaborating with organizations to advocate for systemic change in drug policy. JPP works closely with national and international partners—including the Federal Judicial Academy, University of Essex, and Harm Reduction International—to advance proportional sentencing, non-custodial alternatives, and judicial awareness rooted in global human rights standards.
JPP collaborates closely with the FJA to train members of the judiciary on international human rights law, criminal justice, and mental health. In January 2025, JPP partnered with the University of Essex to conduct a judicial workshop on proportional sentencing and non-custodial alternatives, and co-developed a specialized e-course on the International Guidelines on Human Rights and Drug Policy.
JPP worked with NCRC to address drug prevention in schools and safeguard the rights of children in conflict with the law. As part of a national consultation, JPP is preparing a policy brief focused on child-sensitive drug policy that prioritizes rehabilitation over punishment.
JPP has formed a strategic partnership with the Prosecutor General of Punjab to advance drug policy reform through a public health lens. A joint delegation to Portugal in November 2024 explored its decriminalization model. This collaboration builds on earlier engagements at JPP’s Reimagining Justice Conference and reflects growing interest in health-centered alternatives in Punjab’s legal system.
JPP maintains a long-standing partnership with HRI to advocate for drug policy reform and the abolition of the death penalty for drug offences in Pakistan. Their joint efforts emphasize harm reduction, human rights, and public health as essential elements of sustainable policy change.
JPP’s partnership with the University of Essex supports both policy reform and judicial training in Pakistan. Together, we developed an e-course for judges on the International Guidelines on Human Rights and Drug Policy and continue to provide technical expertise to strengthen proportional sentencing and alternatives to incarceration.
For more information about our drug policy work or partnership opportunities, feel free to contact us directly.
Your voice matters in reshaping drug policy. Together, we can advocate for a fairer, health-centered approach that uplifts communities.
