Central jails across Punjab get welfare stores

LAHORE: The Punjab home department has made prison welfare stores operational in all nine central jails of the province, allowing inmates to buy daily-use items at what officials described as affordable prices.

Task Force on Prisons chairman Rana Manan Khan and Home Secretary Dr Ahmad Javed Qazi inaugurated a Prison Welfare Store at Central Jail Lahore on Thursday. Officials briefed them that the outlet was stocking 74 essential items at affordable rates.

According to the officials, the stores offer a range of products including bakery goods, beverages, kitchen supplies and hygiene items. They said the facility would be expanded to all prisons in Punjab during the current month.

Digital monitoring and purchase system

Officials said the entire purchasing process is being recorded and monitored through centralised Point of Sale software, which keeps complete details of inmates, the items they buy and the prices charged.

They said inmates can make purchases online at the welfare centre through a tablet, using biometric verification and their bank accounts.

Inmates expressed satisfaction over the facility introduced by the home department.

Officials outline reform agenda

Speaking at the inauguration, Khan said prison reforms were among the chief minister’s top priorities and added that the government was taking what he called exemplary measures to transform jails into reform centres.

Dr Qazi said the welfare stores would become operational in all jails across Punjab within this month. He added that the stores were being run by the Punjab Prisons Foundation and that the entire purchase process was under CCTV surveillance.

He further said samples of all food items had been tested by the Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority laboratory, which declared them to be of standard quality. He also said an audit officer had been appointed to ensure financial transparency in the affairs of the welfare stores.

Prisons Inspector General Mian Farooq Nazir said the welfare stores would operate on a no-profit, no-loss basis. He added that all items would be sold at market rates.

The initiative marks the latest step announced by the Punjab authorities in connection with prison reforms and inmate welfare in the province’s jail system.