TAXILA: Punjab Minister for Prisons Fayyazul Hassan Chohan has stressed the need for converting jails into reformation centres so that prisoners could be made law-abiding citizens after their release.

He expressed these views while visiting the Attock jail on Monday. Deputy Commissioner Ali Annan Qammar, Additional Deputy Commissioner (general) Asadullah Khan, Jail Superintendent Farrukh Rasheed and other officers were also present.

The minister said that prisoners were being provided opportunities of getting training in different vocational skills in the jail and they should take advantage of these facilities. He stressed the need to make prisoners as useful citizens after their release from jails. He called for making the welfare programmes result oriented for the rehabilitation and education of prisoners.

The minister inspected the jail’s kitchen, hospital, workshops, barracks and other sections. He also checked the quality of food being provided to the inmates. he said hygienic food should be provided to the jail inmates for maintaining their health.

He said the jail manuals and relevant rules and regulations should be followed in letter and spirit relating to the punishment and welfare of the inmates.

The jail superintendent gave a briefing and said proper arrangements have been made for prisoners’ meeting with their relatives.

On this occasion, the minister also inaugurated a tree plantation drive in the jail.

The minister also told a press conference that the government is working on multiple reform projects of prisons so that that the jails could be transformed into rehabilitation centres.

Moreover, he also presided over a meeting at the deputy commissioner office to review the progress of the district government departments.

He said the allocated budget should be effectively utilised. He said delay in development projects caused inconvenience to the citizens and this would not be tolerated.

He also directed the concerned officers to ensure visits to the sites of the development projects for their timely completion by maintaining quality.

Published in Dawn, March 30th, 2021