Mental health support for prisoners also planned
The Punjab Home Department has unveiled a series of reforms aimed at transforming prisons into rehabilitation centres. Key initiatives include the establishment of day-care centres for inmates with young children and large-scale administrative reshuffles to enhance the prison system’s efficiency. The reforms were announced during a high-level meeting chaired by Chairman Task Force Rana Manan Khan, who emphasized the government’s commitment to improving jail conditions. The meeting, attended by Inspector General (IG) Prisons Mian Farooq Nazir, Additional Secretary Prisons Asim Raza, and other senior officials, outlined measures to modernise prison infrastructure and facilities.
A major decision was the creation of day-care centres within prisons to support incarcerated parents. Additionally, officials were instructed to ensure rigorous scanning of inmates returning from court appearances and to provide facilities for religious worship for prisoners from minority communities. The activation of X-ray machines in prison hospitals was also directed, alongside the implementation of laws to help prisoners reintegrate as productive citizens after their release. In a separate development, the Home Department approved a large-scale reshuffle across 298 positions within the prison system.
This includes the transfer and appointment of seven jail superintendents, 15 deputy superintendents, two psychologists, seven office superintendents, 29 assistant superintendents, 40 chief warders, 30 head warders and 150 warders. Psychologists Syeda Fatima Husnain and Nayab Jamshed have been assigned to District Jails in Okara and Lahore, respectively, to address inmates’ mental health needs.
News published in the Express Tribune on 21st November 2024
