22 January 2026, Lahore – Justice systems function best when institutions work together seamlessly. Supported by the U.S. Embassy’s Office of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) and implemented by UNODC, prosecutors and prison officials in Punjab came together in Lahore from 20-21 January 2026, for a specialized training on the linked Case Flow Management System (CFMS) and Prisons Management Information System (PMIS), which is a critical step toward integrated, data-driven justice delivery. The training builds on earlier capacity-building efforts to strengthen coordination across the criminal justice chain.
The integration of CFMS and PMIS directly addresses one of the justice system’s most persistent challenges, which is lack of real-time information of under-trial prisoners. By linking prosecution data with prison records, officials can track case status, custody timelines, and detention duration more accurately, reducing unnecessary incarceration and congestion of prisons.
During the training, participants engaged in live system demonstrations, scenario-based simulations, and guided roleplay exercises facilitated by PITB and UNODC experts. These sessions illustrated how challan data flows from CFMS to PMIS, how prison data feeds back into prosecution workflows, and how integrated dashboards support senior-level decision-making.
Enhanced decision-making emerged as a central benefit of the integrated system. With accurate, real-time data available across institutions, prosecutors can take timely actions, prison officials can manage inmate populations more effectively, and system managers can identify delays before they escalate into backlogs.
The public access tools embedded within the integrated system also play a critical role in strengthening citizen trust. By enabling online tracking of case status, the system improves transparency and reduces uncertainty for litigants and families, reinforcing confidence in the justice process.
As with previous trainings, sustainability remained a core focus. Participants were prepared as future trainers, ensuring that technical knowledge and operational skills can be cascaded across districts. INL’s continued support has enabled this structured approach to enhance human capacity, and institutional ownership.
By linking cases to custody through CFMS–PMIS integration, Punjab’s justice institutions are strengthening accountability, reducing delays, and ensuring that decisions are guided by evidence rather than paperwork. The result is a justice system that works better for institutions and more importantly, for the citizens it serves.
