Saturday, May 10, 2008, Jamadi-ul-Awwal 3, 1429    

Zulfikar calls for jail reforms

Karachi—Steps are being taken to bring in jail reforms to increase security environment and upgrade basic facilities for prisoners.
This was stated by Sindh Minister for Home, Prisons and Forest Dr Zulfikar Ali Mirza while presiding over a meeting regarding status and progress of various on-going development schemes of Sindh Prison Department here Friday.
The meeting discussed the progress and viability of the on-going schemes threadbare.
The minister gave instructions to remove the bottleneck so that the scheme could be completed in stipulated time.
Expressing his concern over the lengthy procedures for approval of development schemes, the minister directed for proper coordination among concerned department to save time and make schemes most viable and beneficial.
IG Prison Muhammad Yameen Khan briefed the minister about 13 approved on-going schemes with special reference to their status and progress.
He said that priority was given to extend the number of barracks throughout the jails in Sindh province to overcome overcrowding problem. Development schemes for providing drinking water and healthcare facilities to prisoners were also in progress, he added.
Yameen Khan pointed out that vacated historical building of district jail Dadu was being proposed to be converted into a museum which will have historical background and details of all jails in Sindh province alongwith other relevant information.
Appreciating the proposal, he asked IG Prison to prepare a comprehensive proposal in this regard and submit it.—APP