LAHORE – Five new double-storey barracks have been completed at Kot Lakhpat Jail, Lahore, to accommodate an additional 2,000 prisoners.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Task Force Chairman Rana Manan Khan and Secretary of the Interior, Dr. Ahmad Javed Qazi, who officially opened the new facilities.
A spokesperson for the Punjab Home Department confirmed the completion of the barracks, which are designed to alleviate overcrowding in the prison. The new structure has been built to improve living conditions for inmates and to better manage the prison population.
During the inauguration, Chairman Rana Manan Khan and Secretary Dr. Qazi also met with the prisoners to discuss their issues and concerns. They assured the inmates that those unable to afford legal representation would be provided with free legal aid.
Furthermore, the Secretary of the Interior directed that all prisoners be provided with appropriate seasonal blankets to ensure their comfort during the colder months. In addition, a focus was placed on mental health support, with instructions for jail psychologists to maintain regular contact with inmates suffering from mental health issues and provide counseling services.
Dr. Qazi also highlighted the growing popularity of the “Mulaqat App,” which allows inmates’ families to book advance appointments for visits.
Over 850 individuals have used the app to schedule visits to their loved ones in Punjab’s prisons. The online booking system is now available in all jails across the province to streamline and simplify the process of family visits.
