Punjab feeds inmates 1.4m kgs of pulses yearly
Over 1.417 million kilograms of chickpeas, lentils and beans will served to the prisoners in Punjab during the ongoing year, official figures show.
As many as 51,684 prisoners are in jails across Punjab, according to a report compiled by the prison department in March.
According to the data, over 364,700kg of daal chana will be served in the jails during the year at a cost of Rs63.82 million, Rs82,500kg of masoor with Rs20.625 million, 86,050kg of moong with an expenditure of Rs12.3 million and Rs158,850kg of maash with Rs46.066 million.
The prisoners will be fed 511,200kg of chickpeas with an expenditure of Rs132.912 million, 214,100kg of kala chana with a spending of Rs35.54 million and 165,250kg of white lobia with a spending of Rs46.27 million.
The largest share of the food for inmates is served in the jails of Lahore, followed by Rawalpindi and Faisalabad. In Lahore, at least 111,650kg of daal chana, 24,350kg of masoor, 29,050 kg of moong, 49,150kg of maash, 172,450kg of chickpeas and 65,050kg of black chana will be fed to the prisoners during the year.
According to a notification issued by the Punjab government, the prisoners across the province are served chicken six times a week.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 22nd, 2022.