LAHORE: The budget for prisoners’ meals has been increased, while the duration of telephonic talk of prisoners with their family members was also increased to 300 minutes every month.
This was informed at Jail Reforms Committee of the Punjab Bar Council (PBC) meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday and discussed with him the provision of basic facilities in prisons.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that the Punjab government would welcome positive suggestions from the PBC.
It was also told that the Punjab health department would now look after the affairs of jail hospitals. Furthermore, it was informed, bakeries and utility stores were now being opened in prisons.
The meeting was briefed that fans and coolers were completely functional in jails, and that recruitments had been approved in order to make up for the shortage of jail staff.
The PBC’s delegation, on the occasion, offered free legal services to prisoners.
Committee Chairman Pir Imran Akram Bodla read out before CM Naqvi recommendations for jail reforms.
Adviser to Punjab CM Kunwar Dilshad, additional chief secretary interior, law secretary and other concerned officials were also present at the meeting.
