Stalls of products made by inmates to be set up
Prisons IG says move aimed at encouraging savings among prisoners
LAHORE:
The Punjab Prisons Department has launched a plan to sell the products manufactured by inmates at market rates.
Inspector General of Prisons Mirza Shahid Saleem Baig has issued an order to set up stalls of the products in the visiting areas of jails. The products will also be displayed in exhibitions and at stalls established by the government at various events.
Mirza said that the purpose of the move was to encourage the prisoners to take interest in learning skills and create opportunities for them to earn money.
Jail overcrowding down to 37%
Punjab’s prisons had 146% more inmates than capacity in 2010, LHC informed
LAHORE:
Overcrowding of prisoners in the jails of Punjab has dropped to 37 per cent from 146% during the past decade.
This was revealed in a report submitted to Lahore High Court (LHC) on behalf of the inspector general of prisons in response to a petition seeking directions to treat the prisoners in accordance with the Jail Manual. The petitioner had also called for shifting patients suffering from mental disorders to hospitals and drug addicts to rehabilitation centres.
Requesting the court to dispose of the petition, the report said the prisons department would leave no stone unturned to safeguard the rights of the prisoners in line with the international standards and best practices.