Staff Reporter Lahore
Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar announced a prison package worth Rs 5.5 billion at Central Jail Kot Lakhpat announcing that 127 years old jail manual dating back to 1894 will also be revamped.
The protection of prisoner’s human rights would be ensured along with the transformation of prisoners as useful citizens of the society.
They were not despicable as only crime was worth hating, he said and announced 60 days remission in the sentences of prisoners with regard to Eid Milad-ul-Nabi (PBUH).
Meanwhile, prisoners would also be allowed to have mattresses, blankets and pillows while geysers would be installed in all jails in winters.
Alongside, news and entertainment channels would be aired through cable networks on LED TVs, he added and disclosed that air coolers, exhaust fans, LED lights and additional fans would be installed in jails to save inmates from harsh weather conditions.
Similarly, every prisoner will be given a monthly amount from sale of manufactured products with the cooperation of industries.
Poor and juvenile inmates would also be provided facility of public call office for making contact with their families and female prisoners would be provided all necessary facilities and their children up to the age of six years would also be given education, recreational facilities besides establishing day care center.
CM said nutritional needs of the children would also be focused and juvenile inmates protection would be ensured and no one would be allowed to exploit them.
Sports and other recreational facilities would also be arranged with the collaboration of Punjab sports board and Punjab prisons foundation.
Similarly, education for inmates would be provided with the collaboration of Punjab literacy department and national commission for women development.
Health Department would establish medical camps every month in all the prisons of Punjab and best treatment facilities would also be provided in hospitals of prisons and vacant posts of doctors and other staff would be filled, he added.
Doctors would also get special allowance with their salaries, ambulance for every prison to shift the inmates in case of emergency would also be provided, he maintained. All the prisons gradually would be shifted on solar energy to overcome the problem of load-shedding and power outages.
CM said a comprehensive system was being devised for the payment of challan and Diyat every year in the Holy month of Ramazan so that inmates in-volved in petty cases could be benefited. Similarly, poor and orphans would be extended free legal aid with the cooperation of law and prosecution department.
CM said a parole committee has been constituted for ensuring meas-ures for the release of old handicapped and ailing inmates so they could also be benefitted. CM further said additional barracks would be constructed keeping in view the number of inmates in all prisons and steps were being taken to facilitate the inmates for meeting with their families and relatives.
CM said quality food items on fixed prices would be ensured in jails’ canteens as it was a bad practice to overcharge the inmates in those canteens and we were changing that culture so they could get quality items at fixed rates.
CM also announced to change timings of lunch and dinner in prisons for facilitation of inmates. Service structure of the jails staff has been given special focus and pay package has also been given to the jail staff on the eve of Ashra-e-Shan-e-Rehmat-ul-Lil-Alameen.
CM also announced prisons security allowance equivalent to one additional basic pay costing two billion 77 crore rupees on this package. CM also gave approval to upgrade the posts of jail warden, head warden and chief warden which would cost nine crore 24 lakh rupees.
CM also announced 21 operational vehicles for prisons department costing an amount of ten crore 64 lakh rupees. Prisons martyrs’ package has also been increased like police martyrs package, he added.
Punjab prisons service martyrs’ children would get government jobs and prisons department employees’ children would be given scholarships, dowry fund and medical allowance with the collaboration of Punjab prison foundation.
CM also announced to give two prison vans to every jail and provision of 72 vans would cost Rs.91 crore 40 lakh. The existing 287 prison vans were being repaired and fans, exhaust fans and new seats were being installed in prisons vans costing an amount of 17 crore 17 lakh rupees.
CM said in connection with Rabi-ul-Awal celebrations, Shan-e-Rahmat-ul-Lil-Alameen was also being celebrated in all the prisons of Punjab and competitions of reciting Holy Quran, Seeratul Nabi speech and Naat Khawani competitions were also being arranged and prizes would be given among inmates showing best performance in those competitions.
CM said Holy Prophet (PBUH) life is the complete example for all of us to follow and inmates were also human beings and they should be treated equally like humans as this is the Sunnah and teachings of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
The CM said no words could match the most respectful personality of the whole universe Holy Prophet (PBUH) and it was beyond human mind to comprehend the towering and most respectful personality of Muhammad (PBUH).
CM said on the directions of Prime Minister Imran Khan Ashra Rahmat-ul-Lil-Alameen celebrations have been launched and speech competitions, reciting Holy Quran, Mahafil-e-Melad, conferences of religious scholars and other ceremonies were being held and we also decided to celebrate the Ashra Rahmat-ul-Lil-Alameen across the Punjab. CM also appreci-ated the efforts of provincial minister Raja Basharat, Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chohan, Addl.
Chief Secretary (Home) to prepare prison package in order to facilitate the staff and inmates. CM also distributed prizes among inmates showing good performance in Ashra Rahmat-ul-Lil-Alameen competitions.
Provincial Minister Prisons Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chohan while addressing the ceremony said CM Punjab has shown keen interest in the prisons department and no CM had ever focused on the condition of inmates and CM has won the hearts of inmates and jail employees by giving a historic package and package of CM would always be remembered by them. Inspector General Prisons presented the performance of the department.
Earlier, CM Punjab arrived at Kot Lakhpat jail and the guard of honour was presented to CM. CM inaugurated the TV cable networking system, gyms and fitness center and inspected the exercise equipment and also himself exercised on a gym machine. CM appreciated provision of latest gym equipment and said the cable networking system would help to entertain the inmates.
Provincial ministers Raja Basharat, Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chohan, Addl. Chief Secretary (Home) and IG Jails Shahid Saleem Baig were also present on this occasion.
