Islamabad Model Jail misses completion deadline, cost likely to cross Rs20b from original Rs3.9b

Launched in 2011, the model jail faced delays in Nawaz Sharif, Yousaf Raza Gillani, Imran Khan, Shehbaz Sharif regimes

The Islamabad Model Jail project has turned into a white elephant, with yet another deadline missed for the federal capital’s first model prison as the dream of completing the jail by December 31, 2025, has collapsed once again.

The project, originally launched in 2011, has faced continuous delays over the past 14 years. Its initial estimated cost of Rs3.9 billion has gone up to Rs18.2 billion and is expected to cross Rs20 billion by the end of January 2026.

The Islamabad Model Jail is being constructed on 90 acres of land in Sector H-11. The prison is planned to have a capacity to house 2,000 inmates. Over the years, multiple meetings regarding the project were held during the tenures of former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif, Yousaf Raza Gillani, Imran Khan, and the incumbent, Shehbaz Sharif.

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Earlier this year, it was decided to partially activate the jail by December 31, 2025, by completing Special Barrack No. 3 on an emergency basis.

The high-security barrack was intended for the transfer of PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan from Adiala Jail.

However, the special barrack could not be completed, delaying his transfer once again. The Islamabad Model Jail includes 34 security check posts, modern infrastructure, a special courtroom, a 34-bed hospital, watchtowers, advanced barracks, a recreational park, a mosque, a church, an imambargah, a large kitchen, a vocational training centre, a school, a women’s barrack, a library, and an auditorium.

Each barrack is designed to accommodate 10 to 12 prisoners. Cemented beds have been constructed in each room, with two feet of open space on both sides. Each room also includes a washroom and a cupboard. Indoor games and playground facilities are also part of the design.

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Barracks No. 1 and No. 2 together have a capacity of 520 beds. Additionally, 36 special cells have been constructed to house high-risk prisoners. A special office and retiring room have been set up for the jail superintendent, along with a complete telephone exchange.

Around 1,500 residential quarters are being built for employees, police personnel, security guards, and officers. Project supervisor Mughal Abbas said that three to four contractors are currently working on the project, with nearly 700 labourers engaged.

He said 70 per cent of the work has been completed and the project is expected to be finished by March 31, 2026, adding that government staff appointments have already been made for the new jail, and police security duties have been assigned.

A large meeting shed for prisoners has also been completed, where relatives of up to 100 inmates can meet them at a time.

Responding to a question, he said arrangements for housing any special prisoner can be completed within 30 days.
At present, prisoners from Rawalpindi district are being held in Adiala Jail, where the inmate population ranges between 2,500 and 3,000.

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Despite the completion of the Islamabad Model Jail, it will not be possible to house all the Islamabad district prisoners there. During protests, riots, or public disorder, arrests can reach 100 or more in a single day. As a result, even after becoming operational, the Islamabad jail will remain dependent on Adiala Jail for several years.

Under the revised schedule, the Islamabad Model Jail is now expected to be fully operational by March 31, 2026, while partial operations may begin in early February.