Karachi jailbreak triggers Punjab prison reforms

Concern after a jailbreak incident in Karachi has prompted the Punjab government to strengthen its prison management and emergency response systems.

To boost security readiness, Punjab Home Secretary Dr Ahmad Javed Qazi has approved specialised tactical training for 200 prison personnel through the Pakistan Army.

Chairing a meeting, he also sanctioned the procurement of 100 motorcycles for jail patrolling and non-lethal crowd control equipment such as rubber bullets and tear gas.

"These measures are being rolled out under the direction of chief minister to ensure our prisons are not only secure but also equipped to respond effectively to any emergency," Dr Qazi said.

The meeting also focused on digitisation and public accessibility.

Dr Qazi directed the activation of an online visitation booking system to reduce overcrowding and streamline inmate visits.

For inmate welfare, orders were issued to increase the number of prison uniforms and initiate the installation of water filtration plants in collaboration with the Punjab Saaf Pani Authority.

Routine psychological and medical screenings for inmates, the establishment of open-air gyms, and special arrangements for children visiting female inmates were also announced.

In a major policy shift, Dr Qazi approved bringing the martyrdom compensation package for prison staff in line with that of Punjab Police and said that pay scale parity is under active consideration to address long-standing disparities in the department.