Students urged to play role in reforming prisoners

LAHORE: Punjab Inspector General of Prisons (IG) Mirza Shahid Saleem Baig Monday urged the faculty and students of the Punjab University to play their role in the reformation of inmates and see the best quality food, modern technical training and proper medical cover offered to the prisoners across the province.

Briefing the students of the Institute of Communication Studies of Punjab University during their study visit to Central Jail, Kotlakhpat, the IG said on the special directive of the chief minister, six days a week chicken with filtered water is served to nearly 51,099 prisoners in 41 jails of Punjab. He said Food Technology Department of the Agriculture University has prepared the menu which, he added, is the best in whole of the South Asia. About the technical education, he said convicts are being offered various short-courses in collaboration with Tevta, besides other academic exams conducted by different Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Educations and universities. He said remissions are granted to successful convicts. Regarding medical facilities, he said the facility of modern X-Rays plants, ECG, lab tests, dental, etc. manned by 24-hours doctors including lady doctors with free medicines is available to all prisoners in all jails. He said religious education is also being imparted to inmates according to their religion by qualified teachers.

The students were also taken to kitchen, store, hospital, interview shed and women block and were impressed by quality of food, medical cover and state of cleanliness in and around the prisons. The IG briefed the students that only branded food products are served in all jails.

He urged the students to convey their observations based on ground realities to all strata of society that government is taking all possible solid measures for the welfare and reformation of the prisoners on modern scientific lines to make them law abiding citizens after their release.

Female students were taken to women block where they met with prisoners and they were informed a special 6-beded ward has been established on donation for them maintaining their highest degree of privacy with the efforts of Senior Superintendent Jail, Ejaz Asghar.

Deputy Inspector General of Prisons, Punjab, Lahore Range Mubashar Ahmad Khan welcoming the students said first time in South Asia family wards have been established within the jail on the order of apex court where convict will live his spouse for one month.