COVID-19: Sindh IG prisons appeals to govt to help prevent virus spread

Nusrat Hussain Mangan seeks training and equipment for prisoners and staff in all prisons of Sindh

KARACHI: In the wake of coronavirus' emergence in Pakistan, Sindh’s Inspector-General Prisons Nusrat Hussain Mangan has appealed to the provincial home department to provide necessary training and equipment to all prisons to limit the spread of the epidemic among the prisoners and prison staff.

“It is requested that matter may kindly be taken up with Health Department Government of Sindh for deputation of specialised teams equipped with the necessary equipment at all prisons in the province for screening the prisoners against the coronavirus diseases as well as to assist/train the prison staff on war-footing basis,” the letter said sent to the home department states.



IG Mangan pointed out that there are more than 16,000 prisoners confined in the prisons of Sindh. A large number of prisoners are produced daily in the courts where they interact with other people.

Currently, there is no mechanism or any equipment available with the provincial prisons Sindh Prisons and Correctional Services Department to screen out the prisoners against coronavirus, the IG prisons added.

On Wednesday, Pakistan confirmed its first two cases of the deadly contagion – medically named COVID-19.

Soon after the first two cases of coronavirus reported in the country, State Minister for Health Dr Zafar Mirza assured that the contagious disease would not take a form of an outbreak in Pakistan.



Earlier in the day, Dr Mirza said that the two coronavirus patients in the country are stable and their condition is improving.

The minister added, in a tweet on Thursday night that all contacts traced till now have been tested and the results were negative for the virus.

PHOTO: EXPRESS