DLP Report
PESHAWAR
Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Prisons Iftikharullah Jan has said the provincial government is taking practical steps to transform prisons from mere detention centres into institutions focused on reform, training and rehabilitation.
He made the remarks during a detailed visit to Central Jail Haripur along with Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Tourism and Culture Malik Adil, MPA Akbar Ayub Khan and Inspector General of Prisons Rehan Gul Khattak, said a handout.
During the visit here on Wednesday, the delegation inspected various sections of the jail and inaugurated new facilities, including the Shaheed Zahir Sports Arena, Staff Officers’ Mess and renovated Prison Industry Showroom.
Jail officials briefed the delegation on administrative affairs, security arrangements, medical facilities, digital governance, virtual courts, vocational training, prison industry and ongoing development projects.
Officials informed the delegation that around 1,100 prisoners were currently housed in Central Jail Haripur, which had introduced modern systems including digital governance, NRTC integration, virtual court facilities, medical services and production units.
They said Haripur Central Jail was the third prison in the province after Peshawar and Mardan to have its own website. The ongoing development schemes and two new projects at the jail had a combined approved cost of Rs342 million, with Rs153 million already spent and overall progress reaching 55 per cent.
Mr Jan inspected the women prisoners’ section, juvenile ward, medical facilities, rehabilitation centre, prison store and other areas. He directed authorities to digitise records at the jail store and ordered the filling of the vacant post of dentist.
During his interaction with prisoners, the special assistant reviewed available facilities and stressed further improvement in medical care, education, vocational training and rehabilitation services.
He directed officials to examine the possibility of shifting prisoners who did not pose security risks to jails closer to their home districts to facilitate families visiting them.
Later, the delegation visited the Prison Staff Training Academy (PASTA) Haripur, where officials briefed them about training programmes for prison personnel. They said the academy had conducted 40 courses so far, with 1,482 trainees completing various programmes.
Mr Jan said the government was committed to strengthening prison administration, improving security arrangements and ensuring the welfare and rehabilitation of inmates. He added that vocational and educational programmes would be expanded to help prisoners become productive members of society.
He also appreciated prison officials and personnel for their professional services and directed the jail administration to continue improving facilities and promoting digital governance across prisons in the province.
